MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Joan Humble: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on how she intends to contribute to the creation of a Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Jacqui Smith: Establishing the Commission for Equality and Human Rights reflects this Government's commitment that equality matters to everyone—it is not a minority concern. The Commission will give greater support and joined-up advice to individuals, businesses and communities to crack down on discrimination and to promote equality and diversity.
	This afternoon I will be chairing the third meeting of the Taskforce that we have brought together to consider the priorities and role of the new Commission. It brings together people with experience, expertise and knowledge on equality and human rights issues.

PRIME MINISTER

Correspondence

Graham Brady: To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West on 20 January, ref. 149941.

Tony Blair: I replied to the hon. Member on 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 757–58W.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library all correspondence between his press secretary and the Director General of the BBC relating to the lead-up to and conduct of the war in Iraq.

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library correspondence from (a) himself and (b) other members of his office to the BBC relating to (i) the conduct of the war in Iraq and (ii) interviews with Dr. Kelly by BBC reporters.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) in the debate on Lord Hutton's Report on 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 768.

Iraq

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an independent United Kingdom inquiry to investigate the intelligence which led the United Kingdom to take military action in Iraq in 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will take steps to establish a cross-party joint committee of both Houses to inquire into the foreign and domestic intelligence regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction;
	(2)  if he will establish an independent inquiry into the foreign and domestic intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 625–28.

Surveillance Commissioner

Andrew Miller: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an announcement about the re-appointment of the right hon. Sir John MacDermott as Surveillance Commissioner under Part III of the Police Act 1997.

Tony Blair: In accordance with Section 91 of the Police Act 1997, I have agreed to re-appoint Sir John MacDermott as Surveillance Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004. The remit of each Surveillance Commissioner covers the whole of the United Kingdom so that any Surveillance Commissioner can act in jurisdictions other than his own.
	The right hon. Sir John MacDermott has served as a Surveillance Commissioner since 1998.
	The Commissioners are appointed under the provisions of Part III of the Police Act 1997. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 extended the Commissioners' remit. Since the authorisation of intrusive surveillance operations forms a key component of the Government's response to serious and organised crime, I attach considerable importance to these appointments and I am delighted that Sir John has accepted his re-appointment. In conjunction with Sir Andrew Leggatt, their substantial judicial experience, particularly of the criminal justice system, will provide independent oversight of surveillance operations, which although operationally important, must also be subject to stringent safeguards.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Support Schemes

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the business support schemes being operated by the Government.

Patricia Hewitt: All DTI funded business support schemes are being replaced with a small set of more strategically focussed products. Four of these new products (Small Firms Loan Guarantee, Grant for Research and Development, Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) have been available since spring 2003. Further products will be made available from April this year.

Public Bodies (Membership)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the members of the (a) Advisory Committee on Coal Research, (b) Energy Advisory Panel, (c) Measurement Advisory Committee, (d) Overseas Project Board and (e) London and South East Industrial Development Board were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is.

Patricia Hewitt: The Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC) consists of the following members. Members are not remunerated.
	
		
			 Members Period of Appointment 
		
		
			 Colin Gaskell—Chair 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Penny Allisy-Roberts 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004 
			 Peter Bleasdale 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 
			 Mike Buckley 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Peter Cowley 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Les Ebdon 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2005 
			 David Ellix 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Richard Freeman 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 
			 Ken Grattan 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 David Holmwood 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Alan Johnson 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Roger Jones 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 John Latham 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Steve Lower 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 
			 Janet Townsend 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 
			 John Tyrer 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 
		
	
	London and South East Industrial Development Board consists of the following members. Members are not remunerated.
	
		
			 Members Period of appointment 
		
		
			 John McCready—Chair 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005 
			 Thomas William Cohen 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 
			 Peter Edwin Croucher 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 
			 Praful Davda 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004 
			 Bryan Davies 1 June 2003 to 31 May 2006 
			 Gurbrinder Gill 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006 
			 Jim Hicks 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006 
			 Wendy Hyde 1/08/2001 to 31 July 2004 
			 Mei Sim Lai 1/08/2001 to 31 July 2004 
			 Helen Sasson 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 
			 Indeer Jeet Sodhi 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006 
			 Robert Stiles 2 January 2001 to 31 January 2004 
			 Graeme Wyles 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004 
		
	
	Note:
	Praful Davda and Robert Stiles have been reappointed for the period 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2007.
	The Energy Advisory Panel ceased to exist on 31 July 2003.
	I am not responsible for appointments to any body known as the Advisory Committee on Coal Research or the Overseas Project Board.

Regional Development Agencies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 74W, on Regional Development Agencies, what the costs of the arrangements for each Regional Development Agency were in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: I have been advised of the following answers by the individual Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
	Many RDAs share the costs and management of overseas offices with partner organisations in order to maximise efficiency. Total annual outlay for each RDA in 2002–03 was:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 867,488 
			 East of England Development Agency 329,500 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 950,000 
			 London Development Agency 50,000 
			 One North East 969,045 
			 North West Development Agency 698,000 
			 South of England East Development Agency 910,000 
			 South West Regional Development Agency 848,016 
			 Yorkshire Forward(1) (1)1,196,000 
		
	
	(1) 2003–04 data

Wind Farms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many miles of new power lines will be needed in (a) Yorkshire and (b) other parts of England as a result of the planned development of wind farms; and what estimate she has made of the costs.

Stephen Timms: The plan for remodelling the transmission grid to accommodate new renewable energy generation is currently being prepared by National Grid Transco, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Electricity. They are upgrading the initial estimates prepared for, and published by, the Transmission Issues Working Group in June 2003. (a) There are no planned upgrades of the transmission system required in Yorkshire. (b) For the rest of England there will be a need to upgrade transmission lines but the final plans have not been presented. The costs of adding an additional 6 GW of wind energy in England were estimated at £605 million.

TRANSPORT

Airport Expansion

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has collated on the effect of airport expansion on foreign direct investment.

Kim Howells: holding answer 4 February 2004
	We recognise the importance of aviation to the economic prosperity of the United Kingdom. The effects of airport expansion on foreign direct investment were considered in the studies which led to the publication of our recent White Paper, 'The Future of Air Transport'.
	Our work suggested that net inflows of foreign direct investment in 1999 were estimated to be almost 50 per cent. of total investment in the UK, and that the strategy set out in the White Paper—including two additional runways in the South East and expansion in the regions—would meet 95 per cent. of foreign business demand. Although our economic appraisal of airport options focused on direct benefits for airport users, enabling more foreign business travellers to fly to and from the UK will only have a positive effect on foreign direct investment.

Road Accidents (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people (a) were killed, (b) were seriously injured and (c) suffered less severe injuries on roads in Wales, broken down by (i) police force, (ii) constituency, (iii) safety camera partnership and (iv) local authority area, for each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: I have been asked to reply.
	Since 1999, this is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. Some of the information requested has been published by the Welsh Office and the Assembly in the annual series of "Road Accidents: Wales" publications, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

TREASURY

Alcohol-related Deaths

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many alcohol-related deaths there were in each year since 1980.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from L. Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 5 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of alcohol-related deaths in each year since 1980. (152822)
	The table shows numbers of deaths certified as due to alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use from 1980 to 2002, the latest year for which figures are currently available. Information on the part that alcohol may have played in deaths from other causes, including other accidents and violence, is not available from death certificates.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(2)in England and Wales, 1980 to 2002(3)
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1980 2,575 
			 1981 2,540 
			 1982 2,476 
			 1983 2,472 
			 1984 2,647 
			 1985 2,935 
			 1986 2,933 
			 1987 3,138 
			 1988 3,278 
			 1989 3,517 
			 1990 3,594 
			 1991 3,631 
			 1992 3,553 
			 1993 3,546 
			 1994 3,821 
			 1995 4,231 
			 1996 4,455 
			 1997 4,922 
			 1998 5,272 
			 1999 5,473 
			 2000 5,543 
			 2001 6,020 
			 2002 6,100 
		
	
	(2) For the years 1980–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are as follows:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol.
	For the years 2001–2002 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol.
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A. and Rooney C. (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 17, pp 5–14.
	(3) Deaths registered in each calendar year.

Barnett Formula

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made to the Barnett Formula with regard to the updating of population statistics; and when he expects the Barnett Formula to equalise spending per head between England and Scotland.

Paul Boateng: The Barnett formula is updated periodically to take account of population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics. As set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, the latest mid-year estimates are used; the ONS published mid-year estimates for 2002 in September 2003. Spending plans for Scotland were published in the "2002 Spending Review: New Public Spending Plans 2003–06" (Cm 5570, July 2002) and plans for the 2004 spending review period will be published later this year.

Barnett Formula

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each year from 1998–99 to 2005–06 a table showing the levels of expenditure in England comparable to that expenditure in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales that is both within the assigned budget and within the scope of the Barnett formula, at the same level of programme detail as is provided in the analysis of 2002–03 provision in Annex C of the third edition of Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly: A Statement of Funding Policy.

Paul Boateng: The Barnett formula is used to determine increases in spending of the devolved Administrations, rather than the previous levels of spending in England or the devolved Administrations. Information on subprogrammes for earlier years was published in Annex C of the first and second editions of the Statement of Funding Policy in 1999 and 2000.

Child Care Tax Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of claims for the child care tax credit have been subject to follow-up checks in each year since its introduction to establish whether the child or children are being cared for by (a) registered childminder, nursery, play scheme, or out of school club, (b) a child care scheme run on Crown property which does not need to be registered, (c) schools and other establishments exempt from registration, (d) providers of care for children aged eight years and over which is approved by specifically accredited organisations and (e) an approved home child care provider; and how many of those checks resulted in (i) investigations, (ii) penalties, (iii) prosecutions, (iv) convictions, (v) end of year overpayment recovery and (vi) cessation of the award;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the level of fraud in the child care tax credit element of the working tax credit;
	(3)  how many allegations of non-compliant application for child care tax credit have been reported to (a) the childminder's hotline and (b) his Department; and how many of those allegations resulted in (i) investigations, (ii) penalties, (iii) prosecutions, (iv) convictions, (v) end-of-year overpayment recovery and (vi) cessation of the award;
	(4)  how many calls have been made to the childminder's hotline in each of the last 12 months;
	(5)  if he will estimate the cost of running the childminder's hotline in the last year; and how many full-time equivalent staff are employed to deal with calls.

Dawn Primarolo: The child care tax credit was part of the working families and disabled person's tax credits (WFTC and DPTC), which were available between October 1999 and April 2003. It contributed to the cost of eligible child care for working families. It was replaced in April 2003 by the child care element of working tax credit (WTC).
	Applications for WFTC and DPTC could be investigated for a number of reasons, including where there were concerns about claims for the child care tax credit within the applications. However, this was only one component part of the award. An inquiry may involve more than one element of non-compliance, and it is not possible to say how many investigations related only to this particular aspect. However, the Inland Revenue successfully prosecuted and convicted 14 cases where child care was a consideration. Of these, six were solely concerning child care.
	For WTC, the Inland Revenue will be able to arrive at an error rate for the tax credit population when it is in a position to carry out a full random inquiry programme on a complete set of finalised awards for 2004–05.
	A dedicated telephone line was set up in February 2000 for child care providers as a result of consultation with the National Child Minders Association. This gave child care providers the opportunity to tell the Inland Revenue about any concerns regarding claims for child care costs. Up until 31 March 2003, over 2,100 allegations were received in respect of WFTC and DPTC.
	With the introduction of working tax credit (WTC) in April 2003, a new service, the Childcare Provider Helpline, was set up to deal with queries about the scheme and receive information about specific concerns relating to claims to child care costs. Between then and the end of January the helpline has handled over 3,800 calls. It is run as a very small part of the tax credits helpline and it is therefore not possible to isolate the number of staff handling these calls, or the cost.
	It is not possible to identify the number of allegations that have been reported outside of the Childcare Provider Helpline. Every allegation received is given careful consideration and, where there is sufficient reason, steps are taken to examine the circumstances more closely.

Child Trust Funds

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the reasons for the decision to have two different initial payment values into Child Trust Funds;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likelihood of Child Trust Funds discouraging teenage children from saving through other means;
	(3)  what targets his Department has set to encourage (a) low income, (b) middle income and (c) higher income families to make additional contributions to Child Trust Funds;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the ability of families on low incomes to make additional top-up contributions into Child Trust Funds;
	(5)  if he will make it his policy to make an additional contribution into a Child Trust Fund when the child reaches 18 years of age on the condition that the accrued funds will be spent on educational facilities;
	(6)  whether the Government will make a contribution to a Child Trust Fund between the child's seventh and 18th birthday; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The objectives of the Child Trust Fund are to:
	ensure that in future all children have a financial asset at the start of adult life to invest in their futures;
	help people understand the benefits of saving and investing;
	encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit and engage with financial institutions; and
	build on financial education to help people make better financial choices throughout their lives.
	All children will receive a Government endowment of £250 when their Child Trust Fund account is opened. Families on child tax credit, with an income below the threshold (currently £13,230) will receive an additional £250. The additional endowment for children in low income families will help give their Child Trust Fund accounts a good start and ensures that the Child Trust Fund is both a universal and progressive policy—helping to extend opportunity to all, while targeting support to those that are most in need. The Government have confirmed that there will be a further progressive payment at age seven. This structure provides a foundation on which the Government will build in future.
	Financial information and education are key to helping people make better financial choices throughout their lives. The Government view Child Trust Fund holders as the best judge of what most meets their future needs. By enabling children to interact with their own savings and investment account, and accompanying this with financial education in schools, the Child Trust Fund will help young people to understand the advantages of saving. The Government will commission a range of teaching and learning materials to meet children's needs at different ages, moving towards guidance on possible uses of financial assets, including continuing to save, as the child grows into adulthood.
	We do not believe that setting targets for saving in the Child Trust Fund would be helpful since it risks distorting savings priorities. Information and guidance accompanying the Child Trust Fund will encourage parents to consider their savings priorities—be that the repayment of any debt, the need for 'rainy day' savings they can access and/or longer-term savings for their child in the Child Trust Fund.
	We are currently developing a monitoring and evaluation plan for the Child Trust Fund.
	Research has shown that people on low incomes can and do save. Early findings on the Saving Gateway support this.

Economic Inactivity

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the total cost to the economy of economic inactivity.

Ruth Kelly: The performance of the UK labour market over recent years has been strong by both international and historical standards. In 2002 the standardised inactivity rate for persons aged 15–64 was 23.4 per cent. for the United Kingdom, well below the EU average of 30.2 per cent.
	Sharp declines in the unemployment rate have boosted UK GDP growth, and a falling inactivity rate would increase labour supply and add further to the growth rate of the UK economy. That is why this Government attach priority to reducing the inactivity rate. In addition to helping the unemployed back to work, and increasing the skills of the lowest skilled workers, Government policies aim to encourage inactive people who are able to work back into the labour market.

Economic Inactivity

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the major causes of economic inactivity.

Ruth Kelly: The Government have published an analysis of the extent and causes of inactivity and unemployment, and of the policies in place to address them, in "Full employment in every region" (HM Treasury/Department of Work and Pensions, December 2003).

Employment Statistics

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men aged 64 and (b) women aged 59 are in paid employment; and if he will estimate the average earnings of each group.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from L. Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 5 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many (a) men aged 64 and (b) women aged 59 are in paid employment; and the estimated average earnings of each group (153010).
	The numbers of people in paid employment are estimated from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). People are considered to be in paid employment if they have done at least one hour of paid work as an employee in the week prior to their LFS interview or if they have a job that they are temporarily away from. The self-employed and people who do unpaid work in a family business and people on Government-supported training and employment programmes are excluded.
	Average earnings are estimated from the 2003 New Earnings Survey (NES) and are provided for full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period. This is the standard definition used for NES tables. The NES does not collect data on the self-employed and people who do unpaid work.
	The following table gives the average gross weekly pay (including overtime) for the groups requested.
	
		Estimate of the numbers of (a) men aged 64 and (b) women aged 59 in Great Britain who are in paid employment and the average gross weekly earnings of each group, spring 2003
		
			  Estimate of number in paid employment Average gross weekly wage (£) 
		
		
			 Males aged 64 60,000 428.10 
			 Females aged 59 64,000 361.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is provided for average gross weekly earnings including overtime and relates to full-time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was unaffected by absence.
	2. The LFS estimates have not been adjusted to reflect the 2001 Census results and the figures are not seasonally adjusted. The estimates relate to full-time employees.
	Source:
	For earnings data: New Earnings Survey, April 2003.
	For numbers of persons in employment: ONS Labour Force Survey, Spring (March to May) 2003.

Gangmasters

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount has been recovered since 1994 in unpaid income tax and national insurance contributions from gangmasters operating in the agricultural sector.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk, East (Mr. Connarty) on 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 567W.

Inward Investment (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the levels of inward investment in Wales for each year since 1990, broken down by (a) source country and (b) destination by (i) constituency and (ii) local authority area.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The figures collected by UK Trade and Investment Inward Investment Group for Wales since 1990 broken down by source country are as follows. The destination of these projects are not recorded by constituency or local authority area.
	This is based on information provided by companies at the time of announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. These figures include only those projects where the Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.
	
		
			  1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 
		
		
			 Australia 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 
			 Austria 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Belgium 0 2 2 1 1 3 2 
			 Bermuda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Canada 1 3 1 4 3 1 1 
			 China 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Denmark 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 
			 Finland 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 France 7 5 4 4 1 3 2 
			 Germany 6 12 10 5 5 2 2 
			 Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hong Kong 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 
			 India 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ireland 2 2 2 5 3 1 1 
			 Israel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Italy 1 2 3 2 0 4 4 
			 Japan 7 8 2 0 7 6 8 
			 Korea 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 
			 Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Liberia 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Lichtenstein 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Netherlands 1 3 4 4 1 0 2 
			 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Norway 1 2 0 1 2 1 0 
			 Poland 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Singapore 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 
			 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Spain 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 
			 Sweden 3 2 1 0 1 1 1 
			 Switzerland 1 1 4 2 3 0 3 
			 Taiwan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 US 27 20 24 19 21 23 14 
		
	
	
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Australia 2 1 1 0 1 3 
			 Austria 0 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Bermuda 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Canada 1 1 2 0 3 2 
			 China 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Denmark 2 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Finland 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 France 3 3 2 0 6 4 
			 Germany 7 6 7 3 5 3 
			 Greece 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Hong Kong 0 1 1 0 1 1 
			 India 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Ireland 1 1 3 4 7 4 
			 Israel 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Italy 3 2 2 2 0 4 
			 Japan 12 5 7 6 8 2 
			 Korea 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Liberia 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lichtenstein 1 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Netherlands 1 2 0 1 2 1 
			 New Zealand 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Norway 1 2 0 1 1 1 
			 Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Singapore 0 0 0 2 0 1 
			 South Africa 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Spain 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Sweden 0 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Switzerland 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Taiwan 1 1 1 2 0 1 
			 Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Turkey 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 US 20 18 17 13 20 21

Spread Betting

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Financial Services Authority of regulating the United Kingdom spread-betting industry was in 2003–04.

Ruth Kelly: In 2003–04 the Financial Services Authority (FSA) estimates that it charged fees of approximately £600,000 to the main firms for which spread-betting represents a large part of their regulated activities. More details are not available.

Stamp Duty

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the effect of stamp duty land tax on leases on the licensing trade.

Ruth Kelly: There have been no recent discussions with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Meetings have been held previously with representatives of various parties with an interest in stamp duty land tax as applied to leases, including the licensing trade.

Tax Credits

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) its contractors have been allocated to work on tax credits for each year since their introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the number of staff (full-time equivalents) working in the tax credit office or in the Inland Revenue contact centres dealing with new tax credits.
	
		Number of staff (full-time equivalents)
		
			 As at TCO TCO (NI) NTC contact centres 
		
		
			 1 October 1999 3,656 (4)— — 
			 1 April 2000 3,568 134 — 
			 1 April 2001 3,455 163 — 
			 1 April 2002 3,357 173 — 
			 1 April 2003 3,532 296 1,954 
			 1 January 2004 3,157 231 2,301 
		
	
	(4) n/a
	There are also a significant number of staff working on tax credits in other areas of the Inland Revenue and for its contractors, either full-time or as part of a wider role. However full information is not held centrally and could not be collated without incurring disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what elements of the new tax credits IT system will require systems testing before April; and when that systems testing will (a) commence and (b) conclude.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 January 2004
	The new tax credits IT system will be upgraded in April 2004 to allow awards for 2003–04 to be finalised and awards for 2004–05 to be renewed. This will require both new software and changes to existing software. The first stage of IT testing started in September. Further stages of testing have subsequently followed and are planned to be completed for April.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Grants

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants were paid by the Arts Council to arts organisations in the past five years, broken down by (a) opera, (b) dance, (c) theatre and (d) other art, and by company.

Estelle Morris: The following table supplied by Arts Council England provides a breakdown of their Grant-in-Aid funding by area of activity.
	
		£000
		
			 Grants by area of activity 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Audience Development/New Audiences 4,442 5,289 5,151 1,262 493 
			 Collaborative Arts/Cross Artform 16,541 16,866 42,092 41,711 46,119 
			 Dance 23,236 25,521 17,982 17,634 24,729 
			 Drama/Theatre 27,165 29,987 29,947 30,289 71,670 
			 Literature 1,551 1,707 1,498 1,469 3,408 
			 Music(5) 43,348 47,790 29,924 29,911 48,549 
			 Visual Arts 5,148 9,599 6,067 5,483 22,279 
		
	
	(5) The figure for music includes Opera—a separate figure is not available.
	The same information broken down by Company could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fishing Fleet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the size of the UK's fishing fleet has changed in the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of UK fishing vessels has fallen by 13 per cent. since the beginning of 1999.

Public Procurement

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the status is of her Department's guide to public procurement.

Alun Michael: The Department publishes a number of guidances on public procurement, and contributes to others that are available publicly.
	The Department has published extensive guidance on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative—a strand of work arising from recommendations in the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy.
	More guidance is in preparation. I am happy to write to my hon. Friend with details of where the guidance can be found.

Waste Management Plan (Essex)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation she has had in the past six months with Essex county council over its waste management plan.

Margaret Beckett: None. County Waste Management Plans are a matter for the relevant county. It is for them to decide, following consultation with local stakeholders, what options they include in line with the Waste Hierarchy and Best Practicable Environmental Option as set out in 'Waste Strategy 2000'.

Energy Efficiency Commitment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to extend the Energy Efficiency Commitment in line with the commitments made in the Energy White Paper.

Margaret Beckett: In the Energy White Paper the Government acknowledged the continued important role of the Energy Efficiency Commitment in meeting energy efficiency and carbon abatement targets in the domestic sector and made a commitment to publicly consult on an expansion of the EEC to run from 2005 to at least 2008, at possibly twice its current level of activity. We aim to launch the public consultation in spring this year.

Construction Industry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to promote the wider use of sustainable and recycled materials in the construction industry.

Alun Michael: The Government established a Sustainable Buildings Task Group in order to identify ways to improve the sustainability of our building stock. It is due to report to Ministers in the spring.
	Steps already taken range from economic instruments, such as the Landfill tax and the Aggregates Levy which encourage the recycling of waste, to the Waste and Resources Action Programme, to increase the use of secondary and recycled aggregate in the construction industry.

Common Agricultural Policy

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, what discussions she has held with the Scottish Executive about the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State remains in close and regular contact with Scottish Executive Ministers on this and other matters.

Sewage Plants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the regulation of sewage plants in relation to mosquito infestation.

Alun Michael: The High Court ruled, on 23 May 2003, that odour from sewage works is within the scope of the statutory nuisance regime and that mosquito nuisance is not. Thames Water has appealed against that ruling. If the appeal is successful, further legislative change may be necessary. The Government are now waiting for a decision by the House of Lords.

Transport (Environmental Impact)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Transport on the environmental impact of transport.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and other Defra Ministers have regular discussions with the Ministerial team in the Department for Transport on many matters, including the environmental impacts of transport.

Avian Influenza

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levels of imports of poultry meat from (a) Thailand, (b) Pakistan, (c) Indonesia, (d) Vietnam and (e) other countries in South East Asia were in each of the last 24 months for which records are available.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 30 January 2004
	The importation into the EU of poultry meat from third countries must be in accordance with European Community legislation. The exporting country must be approved to export to the EU, there must be agreed animal and public health conditions in place and the meat must be produced in EU approved establishments.
	The levels of imports of poultry meat from the following countries as follows:
	
		Units: Tonnes
		
			  Thailand Indonesia Hong Kong Singapore 
		
		
			 2001 
			 November 2,639 — — — 
			 December 2,936 — — — 
			  
			 2002 
			 January 2,783 — — — 
			 February 2,656 — — — 
			 March 3,170 — — — 
			 April 1,218 — — — 
			 May 3,077 — — — 
			 June 2,412 — — — 
			 July 2,919 — — — 
			 August 3,377 — 1 — 
			 September 3,103 — — — 
			 October 2,255 — — 44 
			 November 2,450 — — 87 
			 December 4,404 24 — 66 
			  
			 2003 
			 January 4,593 — — 107 
			 February 4,194 — — 88 
			 March 4,099 — — 69 
			 April 2,142 — — 86 
			 May 3,010 — — — 
			 June 3,267 — — 17 
			 July 3,472 — — — 
			 August 4,281 — — 34 
			 September 2,818 — — 57 
			 October 4,772 — — 106 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	The information in the table shows imports of poultry meat (includes fresh/frozen and cooked meat) from Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore from which imports of poultry meat are permissible.
	Our records also show imports of poultry meat have come from Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Imports are not permitted from these countries but we believe that these represent consignments which have been exported from GB, rejected and returned or goods where the incorrect Customs code has been entered:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Japan 8 
			 South Korea 73 
			 Taiwan 22

Birds and Habitat Directives

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she is making in the application of the Birds and Habitat Directives to the UK's offshore waters.

Ben Bradshaw: Consultation on draft Regulations to apply the Birds and Habitats Directives to the UK's offshore waters ended on 29 October 2003. Responses highlighted the complexity of transposing these Directives to the offshore area. We nevertheless hope to lay the Regulations in the summer.

Consultation Documents

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those individuals and organisations to whom (a) her Department, (b) its Executive Agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultations (i) sustainable farming and food: meeting the new data needs: a consultation document and (ii) consultation on the implementation of the dairy elements of the Common Agricultural Policy reform package; and from whom each received a response in each case.

Alun Michael: The Consultation Document on new data needs for sustainable farming and food was published on the Defra and Office for National Statistics websites and widely circulated. Copies were also placed in the House Library. 36 responses were received from outside the Department. They have informed the National Statistics Strategic Review of Farming and Food Statistics, which is nearing completion. It is expected that a report of this review (together with the results from the consultation) will be published shortly.
	The consultation on the implementation of the dairy elements of the CAP reform package closed on 3 February. Details of responses received will be published shortly.
	A list of those who were sent a copy of these consultations has been placed in the Library of the House. Respondents are identified with an asterisk.
	In answer to Parts B and C of this question, this information is not held centrally and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Crematoria Emissions

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that future measurements of emissions from crematoria will be monitored by independent organisations.

Alun Michael: Crematoria are one of many categories of process regulated under the Local Air Pollution Control regime. It is normal practice for local authority regulators to include in LAPC authorisations conditions requiring monitoring of relevant emissions. It is open to operators to undertake such monitoring themselves or to contract out to external organisations. Local authorities may also commission their own compliance monitoring where they consider there is a case for doing so.

Departmental Investigation Officers

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many investigation officers are employed by her Department; and how many investigation officers were recruited in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Alun Michael: Defra currently employs 13 Investigation Officers, one Senior Investigation Officer and one Chief Investigation Officer.
	The number of Investigation Officers recruited in (a) 2001 was none, (b) 2002 was four, including one casual, and (c) 2003 was two. However, the total number of Officers in the three grades is unchanged since 2001, but one post has been converted from a Senior Investigation Officer to an Investigation Officer.

Departmental Investigation Officers

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the purpose and job description of an investigation officer.

Alun Michael: Defra's Investigation Officers work in the Investigation Branch of the Legal Services Directorate General. The overall aim of the Branch is to provide the Department, its agencies, the National Assembly of Wales Agriculture Department and the Forestry Commission with a criminal investigation service of high professional and ethical standards delivered in a manner that is consistent with the law including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
	The key duties of an Investigation Officer involve detailed investigation into fraud and irregularities covering a wide range of subjects including animal welfare, cattle identification, tree felling, veterinary medicines, pesticides use and plant health. Officers undertake detailed investigations and prepare cases with a view to prosecution, by Defra's in-house team, where appropriate.

Departmental Investigation Officers

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annualised cost to public funds is of her Department's force of investigation officers in 2003–04.

Alun Michael: Defra's Investigation Branch is forecast to spend £481,600 on pay and £103,500 on non-pay running costs in 2003–04.

Departmental Investigation Officers

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of (a) the July 2003 recruitment advertisement and (b) the required skills and qualifications for investigation officers.

Alun Michael: Copies of the 2003 recruitment advertisement for Investigation Officers, and the accompanying information pack that contained details of the required skills and qualifications have been placed in the Library of the House.

Foot and Mouth Contractors

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) of 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 391, on rural businesses (payment), if she will break down the £800 million of public money saved as a result of investigations into the validity of invoices submitted by foot and mouth contractors by main budget headings.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 3 February 2004
	In his answer to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham), on 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 391, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Rural Affairs and Environmental Quality made reference to ". . . about £800 million" and ". . . some £800 million" being saved for the public purse.
	The public money saved as a result of investigations into the validity of charges submitted by foot and mouth contractors is broken down into the following main budget headings:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Cleansing and Disinfection 672.8 
			 Logistics 47. 
			 Claims Surveying 7.1 
			 Value Recovery 4.0 
			 Forensic Quantum and Accounting 48.8 
		
	
	The public money saved to date does not include the £52.9 million being withheld from businesses in connection with disputed charges arising from the provision of goods, services and works during the outbreak.

Statutory Sick Pay

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people employed in her Department have claimed statutory sick pay for (a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: Defra only came into being in June 2001. Figures for the number of staff in the Department and its Agencies who received payment of Statutory Sick Pay in each of the following categories for calendar years 2002 and 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			  2002 2003 
		
		
			 Less than one week 1,963 1,859 
			 1–3 weeks 1,301 1,178 
			 4–6 weeks 327 287 
			 7–12 weeks 310 260 
			 13–20 weeks 343 215 
			 21–28 weeks 5 4 
		
	
	Figures for the part year June 2001–December 2001 are not available. The Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and meeting its targets for reduced sickness absence as set out in departmental plans.
	This response covers the core-Department and its Agencies, which comprise the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Central Science Laboratory, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Rural Payments Agency and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Chechnya

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 2004, Official Report, column 1251W, on Chechnya, what plans his Department has to make direct representations to the Chechen authorities regarding human rights conditions in Chechnya.

Bill Rammell: The respect of human rights in Chechnya is primarily the responsibility of the Russian Federal Government. Consequently UK Government representations have been, thus far, to the Federal Government. That said, we are currently considering appropriate representations to the local authorities in Chechnya regarding human rights. However, this is complicated by the fact that our diplomats in Moscow are precluded by security considerations from travelling to Chechnya.

Chechnya

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has collated of Chechen involvement in (a) conflicts in (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Iraq and (iii) Kashmir and (b) terrorism against (iv) EU and (v) USA interests since 1 January 2001.

Bill Rammell: Some Chechen extremists had clear links to terrorists in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Chechen groups set up an "embassy" in Kabul in early 2001. Some Chechens fought with the Taliban and al-Qaeda against the Northern Alliance and subsequently against Coalition forces. We have no strong evidence of Chechen involvement in Iraq, although some media bulletins have reported Chechens in military action there. We have no evidence of Chechen involvement in the conflict in Kashmir.
	EU and US nationals have been kidnapped by Chechen militants. Arjan Erkel, a Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) worker and Dutch citizen, was kidnapped in Dagestan in August 2002 and remains in captivity to this day, and Kenneth Gluck, a MSF worker and US citizen, was held by militants for a short time in January 2001. A number of EU (including UK) and US nationals were taken hostage during the Dubrovka theatre siege in October 2002. One US, one Dutch, and one Austrian citizen died during the rescue attempt by Russian security forces.

Colombia

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent developments in the terrorist tactics employed by Colombia's revolutionary armed forces, with particular reference to urban terrorism.

Bill Rammell: We are concerned that some recent Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) attacks have been carried out in urban areas. FARC activity had hitherto been concentrated primarily in rural areas. We have taken account of these latest developments in our Travel Advice for British nationals visiting Colombia.
	We condemn the terrorist activities of all illegal armed groups in Colombia. We support the Colombian Government in the fight against terrorism and in its efforts to seek a negotiated solution to Colombia's prolonged internal conflict.

Diego Garcia

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the study considering the feasibility of repopulating the atolls around the Diego Garcia; what representations the Government have made to the US authorities to allow some Illois to visit the islands around Diego Garcia; what steps the Government are taking to ensure that vessels chartered for such visits are made available; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: A study by independent experts into the feasibility of resettlement of the Chagos islands was commissioned in April 2000. The report on the first phase of the study was completed in June 2000 and the report on the second phase, which incorporated findings from the first, was completed in June 2002. Copies of these reports are in the Library of the House. The study concluded that short-term habitation for limited numbers would be possible but only on a subsistence basis while any long-term settlement would be precarious, and costly. No final decisions have been taken on any further phase of this feasibility study.
	We have twice put in hand preparations to arrange a visit by the Chagossians to the islands around Diego Garcia, but these fell through for reasons beyond our control. We remain in contact with the US authorities on the re-instatement of a visit once the situation permits and provided that suitable arrangements can be made, including the charter of a suitable vessel.

Iraq

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any British companies bidding for reconstruction work in Iraq have been blacklisted under the United States Iran-Libya Sanctions Act 1996.

Mike O'Brien: No sanctions have been imposed against any UK companies under the United States Iran-Libya Sanctions Act 1996.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been found by the Iraq Survey Group of the destruction of the material and equipment dedicated to weapons of mass destruction listed under the clusters of unresolved disarmament issues published at pages 19 to 133 of his Department's White Paper 'Iraq: UN Documents', Cm 5785.

Denis MacShane: The Iraq Survey Group has found no clear evidence to support Iraqi claims that it unilaterally destroyed any such material or equipment.

Security Passes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: Over the last 12 months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had 33 passes lost and 12 passes reported as stolen.

Surplus Nuclear Materials

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place in the G8 ad hoc group on the disposition of surplus military nuclear materials on the forthcoming shipment to France from the United States of surplus weapons plutonium in France; and whether the United Kingdom has (a) been asked to and (b) offered to participate in this programme.

Denis MacShane: The forthcoming shipment was noted at the last G8 ad hoc group on plutonium disposition on 4 December 2003. As part of its commitment to co-operative threat reduction, the UK has committed £70 million towards multilateral efforts to secure the disposition of surplus weapons-grade plutonium in Russia. This follows a US-Russia agreement to each dispose of 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium. The forthcoming shipment contributes to these efforts.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Cambridgeshire Schools

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings the Minister of State for School Standards has held since 1 December 2003 with (a) the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) and (b) the opposition group leader on Cambridgeshire county council to discuss budgetary problems in Cambridgeshire schools.

David Miliband: I have met the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) and the opposition group leader on Cambridgeshire county council and separately the head of the council and his senior staff on one occasion since 1 December to discuss school funding.

Excellence Challenge Funding

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in each local education authority area received Excellence Challenge funding in the current financial year; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme was in each local education authority area.

Alan Johnson: The Excellence Challenge programme is now known as "Aimhigher". The answer is given in the table. The figures in column 3 include funding for schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges within each LEA area.
	
		
			 LEA name Number ofschools receiving Aimhigher funding in 2003–04 Total Aimhigher allocation in 2003–04 (£) 
		
		
			 City of London 0  
			 Camden 10 470,001 
			 Greenwich 14 560,000 
			 Hackney 9 360,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 8 332,000 
			 Islington 9 404,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 12 189,700 
			 Lambeth 10 332,000 
			 Lewisham 13 554,000 
			 Southwark 13 407,191 
			 Tower Hamlets 16 582,000 
			 Wandsworth 9 552,000 
			 Westminster 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 8 473,982 
			 Barnet 4 229,571 
			 Bexley 0 0 
			 Brent 13 608,000 
			 Bromley 7 77,000 
			 Croydon 16 496,256 
			 Ealing 13 649,000 
			 Enfield 17 652,236 
			 Haringey 11 464,000 
			 Harrow 0 0 
			 Havering 0 0 
			 Hillingdon 5 205,784 
			 Hounslow 14 497,870 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0 
			 Merton 0 0 
			 Newham 15 793,000 
			 Redbridge 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0 
			 Sutton 0 0 
			 Waltham Forest 17 704,000 
			 Birmingham 76 3,317,000 
			 Coventry 9 270,030 
			 Dudley 2 77,000 
			 Sandwell 25 564,988 
			 Solihull 4 404,478 
			 Walsall 7 261,168 
			 Wolverhampton 21 480,592 
			 Knowsley 11 470,000 
			 Liverpool 32 1,356,000 
			 St. Helens 12 652,000 
			 Sefton 22 961,000 
			 Wirral 23 1,023,082 
			 Bolton 2 77,000 
			 Bury 0 0 
			 Manchester 23 1,175,000 
			 Oldham 15 442,195 
			 Rochdale 14 611,000 
			 Salford 17 606,000 
			 Stockport 5 446,741 
			 Tameside 6 253,313 
			 Trafford 3 161,265 
			 Wigan 7 426,343 
			 Barnsley 18 480,493 
			 Doncaster 17 696,134 
			 Rotherham 17 912,000 
			 Sheffield 27 1,352,000 
			 Bradford 27 1,618,000 
			 Calderdale 4 77,000 
			 Kirklees 6 573,485 
			 Leeds 43 2,134,000 
			 Wakefield 6 77,000 
			 Gateshead 10 35,0005 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 18 806,000 
			 North Tyneside 18 614,000 
			 South Tyneside 11 498,000 
			 Sunderland 17 892,942 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 0 0 
			 Bristol, City of 22 836,000 
			 North Somerset 4 201,846 
			 South Gloucestershire 0 0 
			 Hartlepool 6 322,000 
			 Middlesbrough 8 530,000 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 11 500,000 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 13 599,000 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 15 829,000 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1 77,000 
			 North East Lincolnshire 5 190,211 
			 North Lincolnshire 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 
			 York 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 12 77,000 
			 Luton 12 408,894 
			 Buckinghamshire 4 337,340 
			 Milton Keynes 4 226,393 
			 Derbyshire 3 77,000 
			 Derby 8 359,087 
			 Dorset 0 0 
			 Poole 0 0 
			 Bournemouth 0 0 
			 Durham 8 353,466 
			 Darlington 0 0 
			 East Sussex 6 77,000 
			 Brighton and Hove 2 77,000 
			 Hampshire 2 77,000 
			 Portsmouth 3 277,894 
			 Southampton 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 
			 Leicester 16 987,000 
			 Rutland 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 17 734,000 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 
			 Swindon 0 0 
			 Bracknell Forest 0 0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 0 
			 West Berkshire 0 0 
			 Reading 0 0 
			 Slough 9 77,000 
			 Wokingham 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 
			 Cheshire 4 315,044 
			 Halton 8 453,000 
			 Warrington 0 0 
			 Devon 0 0 
			 Plymouth 2 77,000 
			 Torbay 0 0 
			 Essex 5 154,000 
			 Southend-on-Sea 5 77,000 
			 Thurrock 3 190,162 
			 Herefordshire 3 123,304 
			 Worcestershire 0 0 
			 Kent 15 343,243 
			 Medway 1 77,000 
			 Lancashire 17 871,636 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 12 414,056 
			 Blackpool 11 331,106 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 
			 Nottingham 19 862,001 
			 Shropshire 3 77,000 
			 Telford and Wrekin 3 77,000 
			 Cornwall 3 77,000 
			 Cumbria 7 205,334 
			 Gloucestershire 3 77,000 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 
			 Norfolk 10 393,154 
			 Northamptonshire 4 77,000 
			 Northumberland 8 77,000 
			 Oxfordshire 1 77,000 
			 Somerset 3 77,000 
			 Suffolk 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 
			 West Sussex 0 0 
			 Total 1,167 49,916,366

Higher Education (Centres of Excellence)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to higher education institutions of bidding to become a Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Alan Johnson: Neither I nor the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) have made any estimates of this nature as the costs will be variable. However, the bidding process for Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has been designed by HEFCE to keep additional costs to a minimum, while ensuring a rigorous selection process. At stage one, institutions will be able to draw on existing practice and readily available information. At stage two, institutions will be provided with additional funding as a contribution to their costs.

Higher Education (Participation Rates)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities have widening participation units.

Alan Johnson: This information is not available centrally. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) does not collect information about the number of universities that have widening participation units. Most of the 131 higher education institutions funded by HEFCE have widening participation strategies, which set out how they intend to use their widening participation funding allocations. The organisational structure an institution puts in place to administer their strategy varies from institution to institution.

Higher Education (Participation Rates)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what international comparisons he has made between participation in higher education institutions in the UK from lower social groups and the situation in other countries.

Alan Johnson: My Department published a paper "Higher Education Funding—International Comparisons" on 12 December 2003, giving an overview of tuition fee, student support and widening participation arrangements in 13 OECD member countries. Copies of this paper are available in the Library of the House. This was followed by a further Departmental paper "Variable Fees—International Evidence" on 22 January this year, giving evidence on the effect of tuition fees on access in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Higher Education Academy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason he will make subscription costs from higher education institutions to the Higher Education Academy mandatory for the first three years.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England has determined that, for the first three years, institutional subscription to the HE Academy should be a condition of grant. This indicates the importance that the Council attaches to quality enhancement and the valuable role that the Academy will play. Institutional subscription will enable the HE sector to support the Academy in its set up phase and give institutions a direct stake in the new organisation. It will also provide much-needed financial stability for the Academy during its crucial early period. It is anticipated that after this initial three year start up period, the Academy will be self sustainable through membership subscriptions and other marketable services.

Higher Education Academy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Higher Education Academy.

Alan Johnson: The HE Academy will play a major part in enhancing the role of teaching and learning in universities and colleges. It will support curriculum and pedagogic development; facilitate the professional development of all staff teaching in HE; and develop and promote good practice. Paul Ramsden has been appointed as the Chief Executive and will take up post in August 2004 prior to the launch of the Academy in October 2004. The Academy will encompass the existing functions of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in HE (ILTHE) and the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN).

Higher Education Funding

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of gross domestic product the Government is spending on higher and further education and student support in 2003–04.

Alan Johnson: My Department has responsibility for expenditure on higher and further education for England and student support for England and Wales. Planned expenditure on these areas for 2003–04 represents 1.33 per cent. of UK gross domestic product (GDP).

Higher Education Funding

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the total projected change in the teaching fund allocation to higher education institutions from 2003–04 to 2004–05.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) plans to announce its teaching and research allocations to institutions for the academic year 2004–05 in March. They estimate, however, that the funding available for teaching in that year will be £3,830 million, including funding for widening access and improving retention and for rewarding and developing staff. That represents a 5 per cent. increase on the equivalent funding for 2003–04.

Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who the members of (a) Remploy, (b) the National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities, (c) the National Disability Council and (d) the Teacher Training Agency were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is listed as follows:
	(a) Remploy
	Responsibility for Remploy rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
	(b) National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities
	The Advisory Council ceased to exist on 1 April 1998.
	(c) National Disability Council
	The Council ceased to exist on 25 April 2000.
	
		(d) Teacher Training Agency
		
			  Term Remunerated 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 Professor Sir Bryan Follett 21 September 2003 to 20 September 2006 Yes 
			   
			 Board Members   
			 Dr. John Cater 1 March 2003 to 29 February 2006 No 
			 Professor David Reynolds 1 March 2003 to 29 February 2006 No 
			 Brenda Bigland 1 March 2003 to 29 February 2006 No 
			 Andy Buck 1 March 2003 to 29 February 2006 No 
			 Felicia Lord-Attivor 1 March 2003 to 29 February 2006 No 
			 Christopher Baker 2 September 2002 to 1 September 2005 No 
			 Professor Barbara MacGilchrist 10 October 2003 to 9 October 2006 No 
			 Steven Andrews 10 October 2003 to 9 October 2006 No 
			 Victoria Nye 10 October 2003 to 9 October 2006 No 
			 Professor Jill Bourne 10 October 2003 to 9 October 2006 No

Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who the members of (a) the Further Education Funding Council, (b) the Further Education Funding Council Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Committee, (c) the Higher Education Funding Council for England, (d) Investors in People UK and (e) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Further Education Funding Council
	The Council ceased to exist on 31 March 2001.
	(b) The Further Education Funding Council Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Committee
	The Committee ceased to exist on 31 March 2001.
	
		(c) The Higher Education Funding Council for England
		
			  Term Remunerated 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 David Young 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2004 Yes 
			
			 Board Members   
			 Stephen Bundred 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2005 Yes 
			 Richard Coldwell 1 December 2003 to 30 November 2006 Yes 
			 Jackie Fisher 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2005 Yes 
			 Ann Lloyd 1 August 2002 to 31 July 2005 Yes 
			 Professor Peter Rubin 15 August 2003 to 14 August 2006 Yes 
			 Peter Saraga 1 August 2002 to 31 July 2005 Yes 
			 Nigel Savage 1 August 2002 to 31 July 2005 Yes 
			 Professor Peter Scott 1 December 2003 to 30 November 2006 Yes 
			 Sir Richard Sykes 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2005 Yes 
			 Ann Tate 15 August 2003 to 14 August 2006 Yes 
		
	
	
		(d) Investors in People UK
		
			  Term Remunerated 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 Tim Melville-Ross 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2005 No 
			
			 Board Members   
			 Garry Hawkes 1 November 2003 to 31 October 2006 No 
			 Roger Spencer-Jones 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Ed Sweeney 1 March 2001 to 29 February 2004 No 
			 Sue Thomas 1 March 2001 to 29 February 2004 No 
			 Dame Geraldine Keegan 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2004 No 
			 Hans Reismann 1 February 2002 to 31 January 2005 No 
			 Lord Tom Sawyer 25 January 2002 to 24 January 2005 No 
			 Norman McLean 25 January 2003 to 24 January 2005 No 
			 Martin Henry 1 October 2002 to 29 September 2005 No 
			 Hugh Try 4 February 2003 to 3 February 2006 No 
			 Professor Robert Fryer 2 June 2003 to 1 June 2006 No 
			 Peter Ayliffe 2 June 2003 to 1 June 2006 No 
			 Sir Nicholas Montagu 2 June 2003 to 1 June 2006 No 
			 Michael Stark 1 March 2001 to 29 February 2004 No 
		
	
	
		(e) The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
		
			  Term Remunerated 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 Sir Anthony Greener 23 October 2002 to 30 April 2004 No 
			
			 Deputy Chair   
			 Richard Greenhalgh 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			
			 Board Members   
			 Jenny Fitton 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2004 No 
			 Edward Gould 5 December 2002 to 30 May 2004 No 
			 Nick Stuart 5 December 2002 to 30 May 2004 No 
			 Sue Kirkham 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Jim Rose 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Sir David Watson 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Ian Ferguson 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Mike Tomlinson 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Dr. Helen Gilchrist 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No 
			 Mike Beasley 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 No

Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who the members of the (a) Centre for Information on Language Teaching, (b) Construction Industry Training Board, (c) Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, (d) Equal Opportunities Commission and (e) Funding Agency for Schools were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is listed as follows.
	
		
			  Term Remunerated 
		
		
			  (a) The National Centre for Languages (formerly the Centre for Information on Language Teaching) 
			 Chair   
			 Professor Leo Murray January 2004 to January 2007 No 
			
			 Board members   
			 Jim Beale October 2002 to October 2004 No 
			 Dick Bunker October 2001 to October 2004 No 
			 Janev Christofides April 2003 to April 2006 No 
			 Jonathon Day October 2001 to September 2004 No 
			 Anne Farren October 2001 to October 2004 No 
			 Colin Flint October 2000 to January 2005 No 
			 Terry Lamb February 2002 to February 2005 No 
			 Ian Lamont October 2002 to October 2005 No 
			 Peter Lehmann October 2002 to October 2004 No 
			 Anthony Lunch October 2002 to October 2004 No 
			 Hugh Morgan-Williams October 2002 to October 2004 No 
			 Hilary Munday April 2003 to April 2006 No 
			 Dr. Susan Price October 2001 to October 2004 No 
			 Mike Short October 2001 to October 2004 No 
			 Professor Eric Sunderland February 2002 to February 2005 No 
			 Peter Thompson October 2002 to October 2004 No 
			
			 (b) Construction Industry Training Board  
			 Chair   
			 Sir Michael Latham 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2007 Yes 
			
			 Deputy chair   
			 Peter Rogerson 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2006 Yes 
			
			 Board members   
			 Trevor Gamble 25 June 2001 to 24 June 2004 No 
			 Howard Baggaley 15 July 2002 to 14 July 2005 No 
			 Roderick Tait 1 August 2000 to 31 July 2005 No 
			 Neil Telling 3 December 2001 to 2 December 2005 No 
			 Maurice Denyer 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2006 No 
			 Geoffrey Snow 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2006 No 
			 Geoffrey Lister 1 May 2001 to 30 April 2006 No 
			 Margaret Sullivan 11 March 2002 to 10 March 2007 No 
			 James Wates 3 June 2002 to 2 June 2007 No 
			 Stewart Tilley 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2007 No 
			 John Milne 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2008 No 
			 Brian Houston 4 August 2003 to 3 August 2008 No 
			 Ian Mackey 29 September 2003 to 28 September 2008 No 
			 Robert Stephen 29 September 2003 to 28 September 2008 No 
			 David Adamson 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2004 No 
			 George Brumwell 1 April 2003 to 31 October 2004 No 
			 Robert Blackman 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2008 No 
			 Professor Brian Lee 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2004 No 
			 Sadie Walton 3 November 2002 to 3 November 2007 No 
			
			 (c) Engineering Construction Industry Training Board  
			 Chair   
			 Jim Rowland 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004 Yes 
			
			 Board members   
			 Barbara Rider 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 No 
			 Mike Hockey 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 No 
			 Louise Ferguson 1 October 2000 to 30 September 2005 No 
			 Richard Leamon 14 January 2002 to 13 January 2007 No 
			 Brian Rogan 3 June 2002 to 2 June 2007 No 
			 Colin Barnes 1 November 2002 to 31 October 2007 No 
			 William McLean 1 November 2002 to 31 October 2007 No 
			 Brenig Williams 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005 No 
			 Bill Murray 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2008 No 
			 Jeffrey House 5 March 2001 to 4 March 2004 No 
			 Dr. Alix Thom 1 December 2001 to 30 November 2006 No 
			 Paul Corby 1 May 1999 to 30 April 2004 No 
			 Neil Moore 1 February 2002 to 31 January 2007 No 
			 Michael Bretherick 4 August 2003 to 3 August 2004 No 
		
	
	(d) Equal Opportunities Commission
	Responsibility for the Commission rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
	(e) Funding Agency for Schools
	The agency ceased to exist on 31 October 1999.

Publicity Campaigns

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department spent on (i) advertising and (ii) information campaigns in each year since 1995–96; what his estimate is for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 21 January 2004
	Expenditure on information campaigns from the Department's central advertising and publicity budget is set out as follows. In addition to expenditure from this central budget, expenditure from budgets allocated to individual programmes will also include spend on publicity related activity. It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to separately identify all such publicity related expenditure. It is, however, possible to identify separately the Department's total expenditure on advertising, and this is also set out as follows:
	
		Advertising and publicity budget
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1995–96 (6)— 
			 1996–97 (6)— 
			 1997–98 10,879 
			 1998–99 13,426 
			 1999–2000 9,902 
			 2000–01 14,595 
			 2001–02 11,688 
			 2002–03 14,089 
			 2003–04(7) 17,092 
		
	
	(6) Not available
	(7) Estimated
	
		Total departmental spend on advertising
		
			  £000(8) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1995–96(9) 8,296 
			 1996–97 7,538 
			 1997–98 9,992 
			 1998–99 15,673 
			 1999–2000 11,900 
			 2000–01 29,066 
			 2001–02 20,489 
			 2002–03 11,261 
			 2003–04(10) 17,984 
		
	
	(8) These figures include spend on advertising from the central advertising and publicity budget
	(9) Employment Department and Department for Education
	(10) Estimated
	The spend on advertising fluctuates from year to year. Some campaigns will run over financial years and billing will fall in the later period. The main reasons for the rise in estimated spend on advertising in 2003–04 are: the increased spend on the aimhigher campaign, which targets 13 to 16-year-olds with no history of higher education in their family about the benefits of higher education and gives 16 to 19-year-olds information about how to apply to university and the financial help available to them; increased promotion of Foundation Degrees to employers; and upweighting of publicity for the Connexions service to teenagers
	Information on expenditure by agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.

Quality Assurance Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the role of the Quality Assurance Agency.

Alan Johnson: The mission of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is to promote public confidence that the quality of provision and standards of awards in higher education are safeguarded and enhanced. It fulfils this role by conducting regular audits of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and reviewing of HE provision delivered in Further Education Colleges (FECs). It also provides advice and guidance to HEIs and other stakeholders, defining clear and explicit standards which form a reference point for review activities. This includes a qualifications framework, subject benchmark statements, programme specifications and a code of practice for institutions.

Quality Assurance Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual budget is for 2003–04 of the Quality Assurance Agency.

Alan Johnson: The Quality Assurance Agency's work is financed through two main sources of income: subscriptions paid by individual universities and colleges; and contracts with the HE funding bodies and Government Departments. QAA's estimated budget for 2003–04 is £10 million. This sum is made up of:
	(a) Funds from UK funding bodies and institutional subscriptions (£8.5 million),
	(b) Funds from Department of Health for reviews of all NHS funded healthcare programmes in England (£1.5 million).

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the total cost to his Department of providing financial support to students in higher education after 2006–07.

Alan Johnson: Information on the costs and benefits associated with the proposal in the Higher Education Bill to allow universities to set their own tuition fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the costs vary greatly according to the decisions that both students and higher education institutions take, and they cannot be estimated precisely at this stage. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.
	The Department's future spending plans on both new and continuing elements of student support will be considered as part of Spending Review 2004.

Student Finance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial assistance is available for students paying maximum tuition fees under (a) present arrangements and (b) proposed student support from 2006–07; and if he will give a breakdown of such help for students from families with joint family incomes below (i) £15,970, (ii) £22,270 and (iii) £33,533.

Alan Johnson: The following two tables summarise the financial assistance available to students by income under (a) the present arrangements and (b) the proposed student support arrangements from 2006–07:
	
		(a) Students paying standard £1,125 fee in 2003–04 -- £
		
			 Residual income Fee remission Maintenance loan(11) 
		
		
			 Less than: £20,970 1,125 4,000 
			 of: £31,230 — 4,000 
		
	
	(11) Maintenance loan values shown for students living away from home and studying outside London
	
		(b) Students paying maximum £3,000 fee in 2006–07 -- £
		
			 Residual income Combined grant Maintenance loan(12) , (13) Fee loan Bursary 
		
		
			 Less than: £15,970 2,700 3,550 3,000 Min £300(14) 
			 of £22.270 1,250 3,550 3,000 Min £300(14) 
			 of £33,533 — 4,440 3,000 Min £300(14) 
		
	
	(12) Maintenance loan values shown for students living away from home and studying outside London.
	(13) Under the proposals for a single combined grant of £2,700 in 2006–07, there is a necessary reduction of £850 in the maintenance loan available to offset the potential cost of additional fee loans. Further modelling will be required to confirm this figure and it is possible the amount required to offset costs might rise.
	(14) Universities will be expected to offer a bursary of at least £300 for students from poorer backgrounds.
	(15) Projected income thresholds and maintenance loan rates for 2006–07 assume inflation of 2.5 per cent. per annum.
	Note:
	Projected income thresholds and maintenance loan rates for 2006–07 assume inflation on 2.5 per cent. per annum.
	These figures are based on the model for a combined grant as set out in the published discussion paper "Moving toward a single combined grant for higher education". Further details on combining the two grants will be announced later.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average tuition fee paid by a student at a further education college in 2003 is in 2003–04.

Alan Johnson: Data for 2003–04 are not yet available. In 2001–02, the most recent year for which data have been analysed, the average tuition fee for those adults in further education who did pay a fee is around £135.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the additional funding required to meet the additional support measures for students announced by the Government will come from (a) existing education budgets and (b) additional funding provided by the Treasury.

Alan Johnson: The enhancements to the student package announced by the Secretary of State on 8 January—increasing the Higher Education grant to £1,500, increasing maintenance loans to the average of basic living costs and writing outstanding loans off after 25 years—will, as set out in the Secretary of State's statement, be met from a reprioritisation within the Department for Education and Skills' budget. The remaining costs of the student support package, including the costs of deferring fees, will be dealt with in the spending review.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much additional funding his Department will require as part of the comprehensive spending review (a) to maintain existing funding levels in real terms and (b) to meet the cost of the measures (i) announced in the Higher Education Bill and (ii) for the improvement of student support.

Alan Johnson: Full details of the costs of the Government's proposals announced in the Higher Education Bill, and the associated package of improvements in student support, are set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the Bill. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  under what circumstances his Department will ignore parental income in deciding eligibility for a student grant;
	(2)  at what age his Department will cease to take into account family income when assessing a student's right to receive a student grant under his new proposals for student support.

Alan Johnson: The income of a student's parents is not taken into account when assessing entitlement to student support in a number of circumstances. The most commonly applied are: the student is aged 25 or over; is currently or has been married; parents are deceased or cannot be found; the student is irreconcilably estranged from their parents; has been self-supporting either through earnings, benefits or training allowances for three years before the start of the course. These arrangements have been in place throughout the existing student support package which was introduced in 1999.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who is entitled to receive education maintenance allowances.

Alan Johnson: In the first year of the national scheme, all young people aged 16 who are planning to continue their education from September 2004 in a school, sixth form college or a College of Further Education, can apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). In the existing EMA pilot areas young people who plan to continue their education into Years 13 and 14 from September 2004, can apply for an EMA. Entitlement to an EMA is dependant on an assessment of household income. Any young person who lives in a household with an income of £30,000 or less is eligible to apply for an EMA.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what he estimates the total cost to the Government will be of fee deferral in each of the three years following the introduction of top-up fees; and how much he estimates universities will receive in fee income in each of those three years.

Alan Johnson: Information on the costs associated with the proposal in the Higher Education Bill to allow universities to set their own tuition fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the costs vary greatly according to the decisions that higher education institutions take, and they cannot be estimated precisely at this stage. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

Student Loans

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his reply of 22 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1405–07W, what the assumed distribution was in the model of the (a) size of means-tested loan taken out and (b) size of fee loan, net of any fee remission.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 29 January 2004
	In estimating the 13 years figure as the average time for loan repayment—22 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1405–07W—the modelling was undertaken across all students rather than being a figure for an 'average student'. The estimate is based on the whole distribution of borrowers rather than on an 'average student' or a student with average debt—there is therefore no one level of debt on which the estimate is based. Factors that were taken into account in developing the model include:
	(i) The future pattern of demand for Higher Education by parental income;
	(ii) The proportion of students studying in London, at home or elsewhere;
	(iii) The propensity of students to take out loans;
	(iv) The distribution of fees actually charged by Higher Education institutions from 2006/07;
	(v) The distribution of lengths of courses (based on internal modelling); and
	(vi) The pattern of withdrawals from HE courses (based on internal modelling).
	The model was applied on the basis of a separate fee grant and HE grant as set out as follows. Once the grants are combined, as announced by the Secretary of State to the House on 27 January 2004, the balance between maintenance loan and fee loan will be slightly different, though the overall impact is likely to be small.
	(a) We currently expect that in 2006/07 around 50 per cent. to 55 per cent. of students will be eligible for the full value of the means-tested maintenance loan of—on average—around £4,000. The remaining students are expected to be eligible for at least the non means-tested element of the loan—an average of around £3,000.
	(b) For fee loans, our estimates have been prepared using an assumption that 75 per cent. of students could be charged £3,000 and 25 per cent. of students £1,200 (an average fee of £2,550). We expect around 50 per cent. to 55 per cent. of students will receive some fee remission. Under these assumptions, the 40 per cent. to 45 per cent. of students who receive no fee support would be eligible for an average fee loan of £2,550.
	As noted above, this is on the basis of a separate fee grant and HE grant. Under the combined grant scheme, we expect that 50 per cent. to 55 per cent. of students would receive all or part of the HE grant of £2,700.
	We then assume that 85 per cent. of students will take up maintenance loans and 80 per cent. of students take up fee loans. Loan take-up is assumed to be independent of parental income.

TeacherNet

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the costs involved in producing the TeacherNet Emergencies website were.

Ivan Lewis: In my earlier replies of 7 May and 8 September I indicated that the cost would be approximately £60,000. The final cost for producing the website was £63,338.

Teachers' Pay

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the pay differentials between teaching staff in schools, further education colleges and higher education institutions.

Alan Johnson: The statutory pay and conditions of service for teachers in the maintained schools sector in England and Wales are based on the recommendations of an independent pay review body—the School Teachers' Review Body.
	The Government play no part in setting the levels of pay in the higher education and further education sectors as universities and further education colleges are independent and autonomous bodies. Pay levels are subject to negotiations between employers and the representative trade union bodies, and will therefore vary from institution to institution.

Top-up Fees

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under his proposed top-up fees plans, what the difference in take home pay would be between two graduates, one of whom had been liable to pay fees of £3,000 and the other of whom had not, at salary levels of (a) £15,000, (b) £25,000 and (c) £35,000.

Alan Johnson: Loan repayments do not depend on the level of fees charged to a student or their level of outstanding debt. They depend on their salary level after graduation, so there will be no difference in monthly take home pay between graduates who were liable for different levels of fees. Monthly repayments for a graduate on £15,000 will be zero; for a graduate on £25,000, they will be £75; and for a graduate on £35,000, they will be £150.

University Access

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the impact on the teaching budgets of higher education institutions of the creation of the access premium.

Melanie Johnson: Funding for widening access and improving retention forms part of the teaching grants paid by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to higher education institutions. For the 2003–04 academic year, HEFCE allocated £3.4 billion of teaching funding, of which £265 million, including £10 million for disabled students, related specifically to widening access and improving retention. For 2004–05, HEFCE have recently announced that they will allocate some £3.8 billion in teaching funds, including £273 million for widening access and improving retention. HEFCE funding is provided as a block grant and it is for institutions to decide how to spend that money.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol Harm Reduction

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether health warnings on alcoholic drinks are being considered in the development of the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy; and when the strategy will be published.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's strategy unit is currently developing the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, which will be published shortly. The strategy unit is examining a range of interventions to combat health harms, including the placement of health warnings on alcoholic drinks containers, as part of the work on the development of the strategy.

Asylum Seekers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who have committed crimes in the UK in the last five years have been deported.

Beverley Hughes: The number of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action in each of the last five years for which information is available is given in the table.
	
		Persons removed from the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action 1998 to 2002(16) , (17) , (18)
		
			  Total of whom: principal asylum applicants of whom: non-asylum cases 
		
		
			 1998 1,730 350 1,380 
			 1999 1,210 140 1,075 
			 2000 1,280 145 1,140 
			 2001 450 85 365 
			 2002(19) 415 100 315 
		
	
	(16) Under section 3(5) and 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971.
	(17) Figures for 2001 and 2002 have been estimated.
	(18) Deportation figures may be under recorded in 1999 and 2000.
	(19) Provisional figures.
	The number of these who were removed after having committed a crime is not available except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
	We take very seriously any criminal or antisocial acts committed by asylum seekers. Although there is no evidence to suggest that asylum seekers are disproportionately likely to commit crime, we have taken powers in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 to prevent serious criminals using the protection of the 1951 Refugee Convention. We will seek to remove such criminals from the United Kingdom wherever possible.

Civil Servants (Disabled People)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the number of employees in his Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested for the Home Office (excluding Prison Service and the UK Passport Agency) is in the table.
	
		
			 Type of disability Number of staff(20) 
		
		
			 Non-disabled 18,500 
			 Hearing impairment 50 
			 Visual impairment 30 
			 Mobility impairment 70 
			 Physical coordination difficulties 40 
			 Reduced physical capacity 110 
			 Learning difficulties 20 
			 Mental illness 20 
			 Unknown disability 50 
			 Speech impairment (21)— 
			 Hearing impairment plus(22) — 
			 Visual impairment plus — 
			 Speech impairment plus — 
			 Mobility impairment plus 10 
			 Physical co-ordination difficulties plus 10 
			 Reduced physical capacity plus 40 
			 Mental illness plus 10 
			 Status unknown 250 
			 Total Home Office staff(23) 19,210 
		
	
	(20) Provided from Mandate Data as at 1 April 2003. The data from Mandate incorporate information on 98 per cent. civil servants. Therefore, any analysis that comes from Mandate will not cover the complete population of civil servants and will not always reconcile with the data that are in the public domain.
	(21) Less than 10.
	(22) ln combination with one or more disabilities.
	(23) Including Forensic Science Service.
	Note:
	The number of staff in post and the number of disabled staff have been rounded to the nearest 10, and numbers under five are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individual.
	A Home Office Staff Survey undertaken in 2001 showed that 5 per cent. of respondents were declaring a disability against a declared level of 2.3 per cent. staff with a disability recorded on their personal record at that time. However, the declaration of disability is a voluntary matter and the Department is exploring ways of persuading staff of the value of declaring their disability. The Department participates in the Cabinet Office Disability Bursary Scheme, designed for staff with potential for early promotion to the senior civil service, the Cabinet Office summer placement scheme for disabled graduates and is a member of the Cabinet Office-chaired Disability Working Group, which is examining issues around disability monitoring and collection and the non-declaration of disability.
	The Department has facilitated and resourced the establishment of the Home Office Disability Support network (HODS), to provide support and encouragement to staff with disabilities and advice to the Department about their needs. The Department is working with HODS to raise awareness and improve understanding of disability issues across the office, and to help realise the potential of disabled staff to rise to senior levels.

Crime Statistics

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means he has achieved reductions in (a) burglary, (b) vehicle crime and (c) violent crime since 1997.

Hazel Blears: We have instituted a large number of measures to reduce crime, many of which are listed in the Crime Reduction Strategy that we published in 1999. Some will have had an impact on a wide range of crimes, others are aimed specifically at burglary, vehicle crime and violent crime.
	There are too many to list all in this reply, but examples include:
	The activities of police forces and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership to tackle local crime problems—for instance through making homes more secure, using local authority warden to warn car owners who leave valuables in their vehicles of the risks involved and tackling city centre hooliganism.
	Working with all parts of the criminal justice systems to improve procedures and the effectiveness of sentencing.
	The work of the Youth Justice Board and Youth Offending Teams.
	Our anti-drug strategy including the work of the Drugs Actions Teams.
	Increasing police numbers to a record 136,386.
	Promoting partnership working—not just at a local level but also with a range of stakeholders such as other government departments, motor manufacturers and dealers, the insurance industry, local authorities, universities and student bodies and leading commercial brands.
	Requiring crime reduction targets to be set, and instituting new methods of monitoring, managing and improving performance at local and national levels. In addition to measures such as the Police Reform Act and the Police Standards Unit we have been promoting problem-oriented and intelligence-led policing which tackle the problems and their causes in a more pro-active way.
	Introducing new legislation and other powers such as minimum sentences for third time convictions for burglary; strengthening the law on rape; increasing the powers of courts to impose restraining orders in domestic violence cases; and regulation of the motor salvage industry.
	There is still more that we can do and, for example:
	We are starting some new work on reducing the market for stolen goods—i.e. making the disposal of stolen property more difficult, riskier and less profitable.
	The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit will be publishing an alcohol harm reduction strategy for England which will set out how to address the problems associated with alcohol misuse.
	We are further improving vehicle registration procedures and working more closely with local authorities suffering the highest levels of crime and voluntary and community groups to get across vehicle crime prevention messages.
	The Crime Reduction Delivery Board is finalising its prolific offenders strategy.
	There are a number of other drivers of crime including social, economic and demographic factors and these will have contributed to the trends in crime in recent years.

Guns

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislation on the (a) sale, (b) promotion and (c) dissemination of (i) equipment and (ii) instructions for the re-conversion of guns that have previously been de-activated.

Caroline Flint: Component parts which can be used to re-activate firearms are already controlled in the same way as an actual firearm. Reamers, drills and other engineering tools are used for a variety of purposes and their sale is not restricted. It is already an offence, with a maximum sentence of seven years, to convert a de-activated firearm or to conspire to do so. Where the weapon converted is a prohibited firearm, anybody convicted of possessing such a weapon is liable to the new minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 10 years.

Guns

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend legislation relating to the (a) sale and (b) ownership of deactivated guns.

Caroline Flint: We have no plans at present to legislate in relation to the sale and ownership of de-activated weapons but we will be looking at this issue as part of the comprehensive review of current firearms legislation. We will be publishing a consultation paper shortly.

Hutton Report

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the premature disclosure of the Hutton Report.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Following the disclosure of some of the conclusions contained in Lord Hutton's "Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. David Kelly CMG" before its publication on 28 January, Lord Hutton set up his own investigation into the handling of all copies of the report prior to its publication.

Ministerial Security Costs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of provision of security cover for ex-Ministers was in each of the last five years; and what the highest cost relating to any one ex-Minister since his or her retirement was.

David Blunkett: We seek to ensure the most effective and efficient protective security arrangements for public figures in the light of the changing threat from terrorism and other continuing risks. It is not our policy to comment on the details of protection arrangements for individuals, as to do so could compromise their security.
	An exercise has obviously been conducted in rearranging the particular level of threat to those no longer in post and arrangements have been made where this is judged to be appropriate based on the security threat to the individual concerned.

Police Recruitment

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the recruitment of police officers, (b) the recruitment of graduates to work as police officers and (c) the Accelerated Promotion scheme for graduate police officers.

Hazel Blears: From 1 April 1997 till 31 March 2003 the following number of officers have been recruited:
	
		
			  Number of officers 
		
		
			 1997–98 6,543 
			 1998–99 5,391 
			 1999–2000 4,535 
			 2000–01 7,415 
			 2001–02 10,215 
			 2002–03 13,126 
		
	
	We now have record police numbers of 136,386 as at 31 August 2003.
	We do not currently collate the number of graduates recruited into the police service centrally and cannot therefore say how many graduates have been recruited. However, we have reason to believe that the Police Service continues to be an attractive career option for graduates. Since April 2003 we have been rolling out a new police assessment centre. So far 4,244 candidates have gone through this of which just under 25 per cent. were graduates or post graduates. The Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates was replaced in April 2002 by the High Potential Development (HPD) scheme which recruits both graduates and non graduates, externally and from within forces, with the potential to reach at least superintendent rank and ensures that they are equipped with the necessary skills to become highly effective in middle management, command and leadership roles. The scheme provides a structured yet flexible career framework which can lead to the most senior positions in the police service. A high proportion of graduates are recruited onto the scheme which is actively marketed via university careers fairs, other graduate events and targeted marketing in graduate publications and literature placed in universities. Latest statistics show that 50 (67 per cent.) of those successful in gaining a place on the scheme are graduates on application.

Police Statistics (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests, (b) people charged, (c) cautions issued and (d) convictions there were in Wales, broken down by (i) police force, (ii) constituency and (iii) local authority area in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The available information, relating to persons arrested in Wales, by police force area, is contained in Table A. It is limited to arrests for notifiable offences and relates to the financial years, 1999–2000 to 2002–03.
	The number of persons cautioned, proceeded against at the magistrates courts (numbers of persons charged are not held centrally) and found guilty at all courts for all offences, in Wales, by police force area, 1997 to 2002 is contained in Table B.
	Statistics on cautions and court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the Autumn.
	
		Table A: Persons arrested for notifiable offences recorded by the police, by police force area, Wales, 1999–2000 to 2002–03
		
			 Police force area 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Dyfed-Powys 14,057 13,036 12,217 13,219 
			 Gwent 27,829 24,642 20,757 14,753 
			 North Wales 12,653 14,843 14,928 17,214 
			 South Wales n/a 34,838 36,295 37,216 
			 Wales (24)88,300 87,359 84,197 82,402 
		
	
	(24) Estimated.
	n/a = not available
	
		Table B: Number of persons cautioned, proceeded against at the magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for all offences, by police force area, Wales 1997 to 2002(25)
		
			 Year/policeforce area Cautioned Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 1997
			 Dyfed-Powys 3,109 18,538 13,464 
			 Gwent 5,329 27,038 21,128 
			 North Wales 3,074 22,051 16,372 
			 South Wales 6,868 59,389 42,613 
			 Total 18,380 127,016 93,577 
			 
			 1998
			 Dyfed-Powys 3,452 18,839 14,066 
			 Gwent 5,780 29,648 23,712 
			 North Wales 3,544 21,515 16,829 
			 South Wales 6,339 63,457 45,429 
			 Total 19,115 133,459 100,036 
			 
			 1999
			 Dyfed-Powys 3,313 18,790 13,695 
			 Gwent 5,502 29,053 23,271 
			 North Wales 3,619 20,617 16,053 
			 South Wales 5,852 57,881 41,658 
			 Total 18,286 126,341 94,677 
			 
			 2000
			 Dyfed-Powys 3,185 18,186 13,241 
			 Gwent 4,529 27,365 21,406 
			 North Wales 3,124 21,446 17,649 
			 South Wales 5,399 57,478 41,649 
			 Total 16,237 124,475 93,302 
			 
			 2001
			 Dyfed-Powys 3,495 16,374 11,908 
			 Gwent 4,258 26,158 20,131 
			 North Wales 3,120 21,199 16,398 
			 South Wales 4,826 53,042 37,720 
			 Total 15,699 116,773 86,157 
			 
			 2002
			 Dyfed-Powys 3,761 17,572 12,796 
			 Gwent 3,803 25,523 20,218 
			 North Wales 3,558 25,166 19,471 
			 South Wales 3,680 57,282 40,513 
			 Total 14,802 125,543 92,998 
		
	
	(25) These data are on the principal offence basis

Policing Consultation Documents

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those individuals and organisations to whom (a) his Department, (b) its executive agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department are responsible sent a copy of the consultations documents (i) National Policing Plan 2004 -07 and (ii) Policing: Building Safer Communities Together.

Hazel Blears: The lists record the individuals and organisations to whom the National Policing Plan 2004–07 and the "Policing: Building Safer Communities Together" were sent, and, this list will be placed in the Library.
	It was then a decision for these bodies as to whether the documents were distributed further within their organisations and to their stakeholders. Both documents also appear on the Home Office website at www.policereform.gov.uk.

Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the members of the (a) Advisory Board on Restricted Patients, (b) Commission for Racial Equality, (c) Gaming Board for Great Britain, (d) Health Advisory Committee to the Prison Service and (e) Horserace Betting Levy Board were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is as follows.
	1. Advisory Board on Restricted Patients ceased to function with effect from 16 September 2003.
	2. Gaming Board for Great Britain— is the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sports
	3. Horserace Betting Levy Board— is the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	4. Health Advisory Committee to the Prison Service
	The Health Advisory Committee for the Prison Service was abolished as a consequence of the decision, announced in March 1999, to reorganise prison health care on the basis of a partnership between the Prison and National Health Services. The table lists the Commission for Racial Equality on 1 January.
	
		Commission for Racial Equality
		
			  
		
		
			 Chair 1 March 2003–28 February 2007 Phillips, Trevor Remunerated 
			 Deputy Chair/Commissioner 1 April 2002–31 March 2006 Hampton, Kay Remunerated 
			 Deputy Chair/Commissioner 1 April 2002–31 March 2006 Spencer, Sarah Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 April 2002–31 March 2006 Barr, Ian Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 March 2002–31 March 2006 Ahmed, Khurshid Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 April 2002–31 March 2006 Gundara, Jagdish Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 April 2002–31 March 2006 Mills, Gloria Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 June 2000–31 May 2004 Jandu, Kamaljeet Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 April 2002–31 March 2006 Short, Cherry Remunerated 
			 Commissioner 1 July 2003–31 March 2004 Jones, Digby Remunerated

Terrorism Act

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 268W, on the Terrorism Act 2000, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the ethnic origin of the individuals who have been stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

David Blunkett: No independent research has been commissioned by the Home Office on the ethnic origin of the individuals who have been stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	Neither is the data routinely collected on stops and searches made under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 automatically cross-referenced with data on the ethnic origin of those stopped. This information could only be collated and verified at disproportionate cost.

Terrorism Act

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 268W, on the Terrorism Act 2000, how many (a) arrests and (b) prosecutions have directly resulted from stop and searches carried out under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03.

David Blunkett: The table gives details of stops and searches under section 44(1) and 44(2) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and resultant arrests.
	
		
			 Year Total searches Resultant arrests 
		
		
			 (i) 2001–02 10,200 189 
			 (ii) 2002–03 32,100 380 
		
	
	This information is taken from the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE. England and Wales 2002–03.
	Data collected on stops and searches are not routinely cross-referenced with the data held on prosecutions. This information could be collated and verified only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which armoured vehicles are used by British patrols in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Where and when assessed as necessary UK forces in Kabul use SAXON light armoured vehicles.

Army Redundancies

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions have been given to Army commanding officers on identifying individuals who may no longer be regarded as necessary by their units.

Adam Ingram: Generally the Army uses the Manning Control Point review process to identify soldiers who may not be required for a full Army career. No discharge action has been taken under this process since 2002 and no further reviews are currently planned. Commanding Officers have been told that individuals who have already given notice to terminate their engagement before 30 September 2004 may be allowed to leave without serving their full notice period, if they wish to do so and they can be spared by their unit.

David Kelly

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the name of each individual who contacted Dr David Kelly by (a) telephone and (b) e-mail on 17 July 2003, indicating the time of contact, and broken down by (i) MOD and other Government personnel, (ii) press and (iii) others; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The only Ministry of Defence or Government personnel known to have contacted Dr. Kelly on 17 July 2003 were his colleagues from the Counter- Proliferation and Arms Control directorate in the MOD. These contacts were detailed in Lord Hutton's report and in the evidence of the individuals concerned.
	Lord Hutton has included in his report or made available on the internet such details of those others who contacted Dr. Kelly as he thought appropriate.

Driver Training

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces undertook (a) training to drive and (b) driving tests in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: Information on the number of armed forces personnel, who undertook training to drive in the past 12 months, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The total number of individuals who took driving tests in the period 1 January to 31 December 2003 was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Individuals 22,071 
			 Passes 40,974 
			 Fails 19,516 
			 Tests taken 60,584 
		
	
	Note:
	Most individuals will have undertaken a number of theory and practical tests during the period. The total number of individuals is therefore less than the sum of those undertaking each type of test.
	The number who took practical driving tests in the period 1 January to 31 December 2003 was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Individuals 17,145 
			 Passes 24,982 
			 Fails 13,422 
			 Tests taken 38,460 
		
	
	The number who took theory driving tests in the period 1 January to 31 December 2003 was as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Individuals 15,300 
			 Passes 15,992 
			 Fails 6,094 
			 Tests taken 22,124

Nuclear Submarines

Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations govern the discharge of coolants from nuclear submarines in British waters, with particular regard to distance from shore; and what procedures are used to ensure that these regulations are adhered to, with particular reference to radioactivity of the discharged coolant; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Radioactive Substances Act (1993) (RSA(93)) governs the accumulation, use and disposal of radioactive materials. Discharges within the 12-mile limit or within known fishing grounds are permitted only for safety or operational reasons, and only if activity levels are below statutory limits. While specifically exempted from the provisions of the Act, the Secretary of State for Defence continues to comply voluntarily with RSA (93) when controlling discharges of primary coolant from RN nuclear submarines.

Operation Telic

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection filters were fitted to the FV432 series vehicles in Operation Telic; and how many vehicles had NBC protection.

Adam Ingram: The FV 432 vehicle is not fitted with a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) air filtration system. In the event that protection is needed, the crew rely on their individual protection.

Operation Telic

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Vale of York for answer on 12 January regarding a breach of security at RAF Leeming, refs 147075–7.

Adam Ingram: I replied to the hon. Member on 4 February 2004, Official Report, columns 889–90W.

Private Kitulagoda

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether Private Kitulagoda of the Rifle Volunteers was a member of the Civil Contingencies Reaction Force;
	(2)  how many members of the Rifle Volunteers who are currently deployed to Afghanistan are members of the Civil Contingencies Reaction Force.

Adam Ingram: Private Kitulagoda, of the Rifle Volunteers, who was sadly killed on 28 January 2004 while on duty in Afghanistan, was a member of the Civil Contingency Reaction Force.
	All members of the Rifle Volunteers are part of the 43 (Wessex) Brigade Civil Contingency Reaction Force, and 46 members of the unit are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
	Despite the absence of these individuals on operations we retain the necessary capability for the CCRFs to meet any role required of them.

RAF Marham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what hours of the day the bird-scarer at RAF Marham operates; and whether those hours have changed in the last five years.

Adam Ingram: The Bird Control Unit (ECU) at RAF Marham operates within standard Station flying hours 0800–0000 Monday to Thursday, 0800–1800 on Fridays. These hours have not changed in the last five years. Additionally the BCU operates to meet any operational requirements outside standard hours.

RAF Marham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of bird-strike occurred at RAF Marham in each of the last seven years.

Adam Ingram: In the past seven years the following number of bird-strikes have been recorded at RAF Marham:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 1 
			 1998 3 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 5 
			 2001 6 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 6

Work Strands

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many work strands have been established by his Department; what subject areas each strand will cover; what savings have to be identified in each work strand; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As part of the Ministry of Defence's annual planning round, 16 work strands have been established to conduct a thorough examination of defence costs and capabilities. Each work strand will explore aspects of military capability and/or associated overheads with a view to identifying options for re- balancing the Defence Programme. This work will take place within the policy context set out in the Defence White Paper: Delivering Security in a Changing World. Financial savings targets have not been set for individual work strands.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is offering for the reconstruction effort in Bam, Iran, in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Hilary Benn: Following our immediate support to the emergency phase of the Bam earthquake response, we have committed a further £2 million towards the rehabilitation effort.
	This additional support is focused on the restoration of primary health care services in partnership with the World Health Organisation (£0.5 million); the implementation of a mid-term sanitation programme in partnership with the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF (£0.5 million); the restoration of agricultural based livelihoods, focusing on the rehabilitation of wells and procurement of pumps, livestock restocking and the replacement of agricultural tools in a joint United Nations Development Programme—Food and Agricultural Organisation partnership (£0.25 million) and also through the non-governmental organisation Action Contre La Faim (£0.3 million); and further support to the International Federation of the Red Cross's appeal (£0.45 million), including the re-stocking of relief items, continued provision of emergency medical services and capacity building of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
	The UK's overall support since the earthquake is £2.95 million, including the UK share of European Community commitments. The European Commission is expected to shortly announce a package of support to the rehabilitation effort. The UK share of this additional commitment would increase our overall support to around £3.7 million.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 21 January 2004, Official Report, column 1297W, on Iraq, if he will break down the expenditure by (a) secondment, (b) consultant and (c) security measure.

Hilary Benn: The breakdowns are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) CPA Director of Infrastructure and support staff 150,000 
			 Deployments to the region by DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Dept (CHAD) 1,287,000 
			 Secondments to UN 536,000 
			 DFID staff secondments to Iraq 80,000 
			 Total 2,053,000 
			   
			 (b) DFID consultants (on-going programme) 1,360,000 
			 Consultants for Essential Services in Southern Iraq 46,000 
			 Recovery and Infrastructure Group 2,500,000 
			 Governorate Offices 1,895,000 
			 Emergency Infrastructure Programme 500,000 
			 Total 6,301,000 
			   
			 (c) Close protection services to CPA(S) 4,384,000 
			 Close protection/security equipment for consultancy teams 1,614,000 
			 Security equipment (incl. Armoured Vehicles) 5,445,000 
			 Total 11,443,000

Nigeria

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department will give Nigeria in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05.

Hilary Benn: DFID's development assistance to Nigeria for 2003–04 is £35 million and for 2004–05 will be £43 million. In addition, I recently announced an extra £15 million for Nigeria's programme of civil service reform.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service Jobs (Relocation)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Civil Service jobs have been relocated to Dumfries and Galloway since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: The information is not available in the form requested. Data are available on the number of Civil Service jobs in Scotland as a whole, although it is not possible to separate changes resulting from the relocation of existing work from changes due to new work arising and old jobs disappearing.
	Detailed civil service Statistics for UK Departments are available at www.civil-service.for.uk/statistics.
	I understand that the Scottish Executive is committed to the dispersal of public sector jobs and that as a result of this policy around 1,250 posts have been and plan to be located out with Edinburgh and that further 1,950 are covered by planned location reviews.

Government Vehicles

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of official Government vehicles are fitted to run on liquid petroleum gas.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government and Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Information Technology

Richard Allan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what audit mechanisms are in place to determine whether information technology (a) hardware and (b) software products are being used properly in his Department.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office and its agencies (the Central Office of Information and the Government Car and Despatch Agency), use formal processes and procedures to ensure that all official IT hardware and software is used properly.
	The Department maintains asset registers and service statistics, and undertake regular checks on these using both electronic and manual methods. We have controls in place to guarantee that approved software and hardware products only are used on official systems, and that they are sourced and supported through approved channels. The Department also use systems to manage and monitor access to Internet services, to secure the effective day-to-day operation of IT, and for other lawful purposes.
	The Cabinet Office Management Code informs staff on the rules and guidelines covering the use of electronic communications facilities, and highlights the consequences of non-compliance.

Procurement (Outsourcing)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether the Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries the Department has outsourced these jobs; how much the Department has spent on outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office's procurement policy is based on value for money with due regard to propriety and regularity, including the EU Treaty and the UK's international obligations.
	The Department does not have a specific procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing. The Cabinet Office has outsourced a number of IT contracts over the last two years and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 998–99 for a list of all such contracts signed by my department since 1997. All of these were to companies based in the UK. To establish the sub-contracting arrangements of these companies would incur disproportionate costs.

Public Services Audit

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 72W, on public services audit, for what reasons the contents of the Cabinet Office paper were revealed to Rosemary Bennett of The Times newspaper.

Douglas Alexander: There was no authorised official briefing to Rosemary Bennett of The Times newspaper.
	It is not Government policy to comment on reports in the media that are not from authorised briefing.

Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: The number of security passes lost or stolen between January and December 2003 are:
	
		
			  Lost Stolen 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 49 7 
			 Cabinet Office Agencies 12 3 
		
	
	My Department assesses all cases of lost and stolen passes to determine any increased vulnerability to security. Additional controls and procedures are introduced as necessary.

Security Passes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) today.

WALES

Easements

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation to create an exemption from easements for private home owners who require vehicular access across common land to access their homes.

Peter Hain: Under section 68 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, a home owner can acquire a right of way over common land to gain access to their home. The section is to be brought into force by the National Assembly for Wales in early February. The Government have no plans to introduce further legislation on this subject.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Learning to Listen Initiative

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of marketing his Department's Learning to Listen to Young People initiative will be.

Yvette Cooper: Marketing of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Learning to Listen competition cost £2,333.75. This was for the production and printing of the leaflet. This has been the only marketing activity to date and there are no existing plans for other further marketing activities that would have a cost implication.

Learning to Listen Initiative

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of his Department's Learning to Listen to Young People initiative will be; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The costs are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Salaries from March 2003-April 2004 34,969.02 
			 Competition leaflet production 2,333.75 
			 Competition winners event and exhibition (26)6,000 
			 Total 43,302.77 
		
	
	(26) Predicted expenditure.

Learning to Listen Initiative

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many officials in his Department have been assigned to work on the Learning to Listen to Young People initiative.

Yvette Cooper: There is one lead official (currently a secondee from the Voluntary sector) assigned to work on the Learning to Listen action plan full-time. Other officials across the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister contribute through a departmental steering group that meets quarterly.

Learning to Listen Initiative

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how his Department will take account of the views expressed by young people through the Learning to Listen to Young People initiative.

Yvette Cooper: The Learning to Listen initiative aims to involve children and young people in shaping the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policy design and delivery. As such this is an on-going activity and all policy areas are examining how they can engage with children and young people more effectively as their stakeholders.
	In November 2003 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched a competition for young people to suggest the most appropriate way for them to become actively involved in the work of the Department. The winner and short listed youth groups will be invited to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to explore their ideas further with relevant policy leads. There will also be an in-house exhibition of the competition entries.
	All of the views expressed by the young people in the competition will be forwarded onto the relevant Office of the Deputy Prime Minister policy areas. The young people will be provided with feedback on any changes that occur as a result of their suggestions.

Light Pollution

Ross Cranston: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the control of light pollution.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policy on planning control and light pollution has long been that such issues are most appropriately dealt with by: raising awareness by those who buy and procure external lighting of the consequences of badly installed lighting; providing guidance on how those problems might be mitigated; and encouraging more effective use of existing planning powers.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also intends to provide an annex to Planning Policy Statement 23, Planning and Pollution Control, specifically on light pollution. This will send a clear signal to local planning authorities that they should take the issue of light pollution as seriously as they do other types of pollution when considering planning applications.

Telecommunications Masts

John Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will reduce the safety limit of 58 V/m for mobile phone and Tetra masts to the European limit of 0.002 V/m to 6 V/m;
	(2)  if he will amend safety limits on mobile phone masts to cover non-thermal influences;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the latest evidence on the possible risks to health of mobile phone masts; and if he will take steps to bring UK safety measures into line with best practice in other European countries.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government, along with other European Union member states, have adopted the exposure guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) as expressed in the 1999 European Council Recommendation 519/EC/1999. All mobile phone base stations and handsets should comply with these guidelines.
	The Stewart Report on "Mobile Phones and Health" in May 2000 (www.iegmp.org.uk) included the following conclusions on base stations:
	"the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines."
	Further reduction of guidelines was considered by the Stewart Group but this was rejected, as there was "no scientific basis" for it.
	A review of recent research, entitled, "Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", published in January 2004 by the National Radiological Protection Board's (NRPB) Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation, came to similar conclusions:
	"Exposure levels from living near to mobile phone base stations are extremely low, and the overall evidence indicates that they are unlikely to pose a risk to health."
	In the last three years the Radiocommunications Agency (RA), now part of Ofcom, has carried out and published radio frequency exposure level measurements near base station sites. The data show that exposure to signals from masts at locations accessible to the general public is very low compared with guideline levels advised by the ICNIRP (www.ofcom.org.uk).
	The NRPB has the statutory responsibility for advising the Government on exposure guidelines for electromagnetic fields (EMFs). They issued a consultation document last year, in which they proposed new advice on exposure guidelines for all EMFs comparable with the international guidelines. Publication of the new NRPB guidelines is expected this spring.
	I wrote to all right hon. and hon. Members on 21 January with a summary of the current position relating to mobile phone technology and health concerns.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Age Discrimination

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his policy on tackling age discrimination in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: Consultation on proposals for legislation which will tackle age discrimination in employment and training in line with the requirements of the EU Employment Framework Directive ended on 23 January 2004.
	Draft regulations will be developed in the light of responses to this consultation and further consultation on these regulations will then take place. The legislation will come into force in late 2006 to comply with the Directive. Guidance will be developed and published when the regulations have been made giving employers time to complete preparations for their new obligations, and it will allow individuals to familiarise themselves with their new rights.
	Policy development is continuing within the context of the single Equality Bill, on extending protection for the age ground to the provision of goods, facilities and services. A consultation on the single Equality Bill is planned for this year.

Children's Commissioner

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the work of the Children's Commissioner in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: Mr. Nigel Williams was appointed as the first Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland on 1 October 2003. His powers and duties, as an independent champion for children and young people, are set out in the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. This legislation establishes the primary aim of the commissioner which is to
	'safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people'.
	In the period since his appointment, the commissioner has met with children and young people throughout Northern Ireland to listen to their concerns. He has also engaged with political representatives, and statutory, voluntary and community organisations dealing with children and young people's issues.
	He has already established a unique identity and branding with a dedicated interactive website, www. niccy.org, and has begun the process of recruiting his staff team, with the involvement of young people. He has also commissioned a base-line study into how Northern Ireland is implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Drugs Treatment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to increase the number of specialist beds in the Province for the treatment of patients with drug addictions; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: There are no plans at present to expand the number of specialist beds for the treatment of patients with drug addictions. However, the services for problem drug users, including the provision of specialist beds, will continue to be assessed. An independent review of mental health and learning disability policy, services and legislation has been established and part of its remit involves looking at the services available to problem drug users.

Education and Library Board Transition Plan

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opportunity is available to parents of young people with moderate learning disabilities to comment on the Education and Library Board Transition Plan.

Jane Kennedy: In accordance with the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, an Education and Library Board is required to produce a Transition Plan at the first (and subsequent) Annual Review of the statement of Special Educational Needs following the young person's 14th birthday. The Transition Plan draws together information from a variety of sources, including the young person, his/her parents, the school and any other professionals involved with the young person.
	Parents of young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are routinely invited to transition planning meetings in schools to discuss key issues relating to the young person's SEN. Parents are invited to comment during the meeting and to contribute actively to the transition planning process.

Education and Library Board Transition Plan

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how (a) parents and (b) others may appeal the provisions contained in the Education and Library Board Transition Plan.

Jane Kennedy: Transition Plans are reviewed and updated on an annual basis following the young person's statutory Annual Review of a Statement of Special Educational Needs. When Transition Plans are written there is every opportunity for parents, the young person and others to have their opinion noted and the Education and Library Board will endeavour to resolve any difficulties identified. Within existing legislation there is no provision for a formal appeal specifically of the Transition Plan. If, however, as a result of the Annual Review, the Education and Library Board amends the educational provision contained in the Statement of Special Educational Needs, the parent has the normal right of appeal to the SEN Tribunal, if he/she is in disagreement with the provision.

Fair Employment Legislation

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what employees are exempt from fair employment legislation in Northern Ireland; and for what reason they are exempt.

John Spellar: The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 as amended by the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 provides for the following exemptions in respect of employees:
	(i) any employment or occupation as a clergyman or minister of a religious denomination;
	(ii) any employment or occupation where the essential nature of the job requires it to be done by a person holding, or not holding a particular religious belief or political opinion.
	The legislation recognises that there are particular jobs where it may be necessary for a person carrying out that work to be of a particular religious belief or political opinion.

Government Solicitors

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether solicitors have been retained to draft legislation in respect of the Single Equality Bill.

John Spellar: No. Assembly Bills introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive during devolution and Orders in Council made under the Northern Ireland Act 2000 while the Assembly is suspended are drafted by the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. A panel of experts, who are legal and academic specialists, was set up in February 2003 to provide advice to assist in the policy development process.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the longest period is that an individual has been waiting for (a) in-patient admission and (b) initial out-patient assessment in orthopaedic surgery.

Angela Smith: Information from health trusts in Northern Ireland indicates that, at the end of December 2003, the longest time an individual has been waiting for in-patient admission to the trauma and orthopaedics specialty is 2,808 days, and the longest time for an initial out-patient appointment is 3,485 days.
	It should be noted, however, that over 80 per cent. of in-patients for trauma and orthopaedics and 90 per cent. of out-patients are seen in less than 12 months.

Learning Difficulties

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms of reference are of the working group chaired by the Department of Education to consider future provision for the needs of young people with moderate learning difficulties; and if he will place a copy of them in the Library.

Jane Kennedy: The Department of Education does not chair a group to consider future provision for the needs of young people specifically with moderate learning difficulties. It does, however, chair an Inter Departmental Working Group (IDG) that is looking at the Transition of young people with statements of special educational needs to adult life.
	The remit of the IDG is:
	To consider gaps in the process of transition from school (mainstream and special) for children with Statements of Special Educational Needs;
	To address these gaps by considering needs and best practice in the area; and
	To formulate proposals for additional resources in relation to the transitions planning process through to post-school provision in employment, further education and training and day care.
	A copy of the above has been placed in the Library.

Learning Difficulties

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Northern Ireland Departments are represented on the working group chaired by the Department of Education to consider provision for the future needs of young people with moderate learning difficulties; how many times the working group has met; and from whom the group has taken evidence.

Jane Kennedy: The Department of Education does not chair a group to consider future provision for the needs of young people specifically with moderate learning difficulties. It does, however, chair an inter-departmental working group (IDG) that is looking at the transition of young people with statements of special educational needs to adult life.
	The IDG on transitions consists of representatives from the Departments of Education, Employment and Learning, and Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and at one meeting representatives from the Social Security Agency were co-opted for advice. The IDG has met on seven occasions and has taken advice from a range of interests including the Education and Library Boards, the Education and Training Inspectorate, a number of schools and parents groups, a community Health and Social Services Trust, the Carers Forum, a cross section of voluntary groups and an MLA with a special interest in the transitions process.

Post-primary Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of how the proposed new Northern Ireland post-primary education system will affect current schooling arrangements under the Craigavon-Dixon scheme.

Jane Kennedy: The Government's decisions are not imposing a 'one size fits all' system. All existing school types, including Dickson plan schools, have a place in the new arrangements, provided they meet the requirements of the Entitlement Framework. Academic selection will end and new transfer arrangements will be based on informed pupil and parental choice.

Rates Relief

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many people are eligible to receive rates relief, broken down by parliamentary constituency;
	(2)  how many pensioners (a) applied for rates relief and (b) were successful in their application in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Ian Pearson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Rate Collection Agency to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Recruitment Advertising

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on recruitment advertisements in the press, broken down by publication, by (a) his Department, (b) quangos under the Department and (c) non-departmental Government bodies under the Department (i) in the last year and (ii) since 1997.

Ian Pearson: Expenditure by the Recruitment Service on advertising in relation to appointments to the Northern Ireland civil service is as follows:
	2003: £0.5 million
	1998–2002: £1.8 million
	The Recruitment Service uses the most appropriate publication for recruitment advertising (normally the regional press), depending on the nature of the vacancy to be filled.
	Other information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Discrimination Bill

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  on what basis (a) HIV, (b) cancer and (c) multiple sclerosis were included in the draft Disability Discrimination Bill's definitions of disability; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on what basis (a) restricted growth conditions, (b) mental ill health and (c) high functioning autism were excluded from the draft Disability Discrimination Bill's definitions of disability; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Anyone with a restricted growth condition, mental ill health or high functioning autism who meets the current definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is treated as a disabled person for the purposes of the Act and is entitled to protection against disability discrimination. A disabled person is defined in section 1 of the Act as a person who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
	In the particular case of people with progressive conditions (such as HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis), the current definition treats them as disabled if their impairment has some effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, even if not substantial, provided that it is eventually likely to have that effect.
	We propose through the definition of disability clause in the draft Disability Discrimination Bill to extend the current definition of disability in the Act for the progressive conditions of HIV infection, cancer and multiple sclerosis to anyone who has that condition whether or not it has an effect on normal day-to-day activities; although there is a power which could be used to exclude cancers which do not require substantial treatment. The provisions relating to HIV infection and cancer follow recommendations by the Disability Rights Task Force. The extension for multiple sclerosis followed consideration of case law. No conditions already covered by the 1995 Act would be excluded by means of the draft Disability Discrimination Bill.

Attendance Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of attendance allowance claimants in England who would no longer qualify for this benefit if they were being given free personal care; and what estimate he has made of the consequent saving to his Department.

Maria Eagle: Data from which such estimates could be derived are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Benefit Fraud

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were successfully prosecuted in Scotland for (a) housing benefit, (b) income support, (c) council tax benefit and (d) jobseeker's allowance fraud in each of the last five years.

Chris Pond: The available information is in the table:
	
		Number of successful benefit fraud prosecutions in Scotland
		
			  (27)DSS/DWP Agencies (28)Local authority 
		
		
			 1998–99 598 NA 
			 1999–2000 494 NA 
			 2000–01 510 NA 
			 2001–02 503 23 
			 2002–03 486 73 
		
	
	(27) Fraud Information by Sector system
	(28) Local authority subsidy returns
	Note
	1. The DSS/DWP figures refer to prosecutions undertaken specifically by the Counter Fraud Investigation Services in Scotland. These figures cannot be broken down separately into individual benefits and include successful prosecutions for all benefits paid by the Department, including Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. Figures relating to prosecutions carried out in Scotland by the National Investigation Service can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	2. The local authority figures are for successful prosecutions carried out by local authorities in Scotland in respect of Housing Benefit fraud and Council Tax Benefit fraud.
	3. Information on the number of people successfully prosecuted by local authorities in Scotland is available only as a total figure for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and can not be provided separately.
	4. For figures prior to 1999–2000, the Fraud Information by Sector database shows completed cases commenced in the relevant period. Due to the elapsed time between commencement of an investigation and completion of a prosecution there are cases which are inserted into previously completed data for earlier periods. All totals are therefore correct at the time when quoted but subject to adjustment at a later date.
	5. Reliable information for local authority prosecutions in Scotland is not available for 1998–99 to 2000–01.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many whole time equivalent staff were employed by his Department on anti-benefit fraud programmes in each of the last six years; what the operational costs were in each of those years; how much additional benefit was recovered in each case; and what the unit cost ratio of cost to benefit was in each case.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.
	The overall aim of the Department's anti-fraud strategy is to have a benefit system which is secure from first claim to final payment. The implementation of this strategy means that an anti-fraud focus is integral to the work of all staff in the Department, as is dealing with the wider agenda of error and incorrectness in benefit payments. It is therefore not possible to account for the cost of anti-fraud work separately.
	The information currently available shows that around 5,000 staff are employed nationally at any one time by the Department and its agencies in work to investigate suspicions of fraud.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls have been received by the National Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the last six years; and how many (a) investigations, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions have resulted.

Chris Pond: The available information is in the table.
	
		National Benefit Fraud Hotline
		
			  Number of calls received Investigations Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 April 1997–March 1998 188,038 n/a n/a n/a 
			 April 1998–March 1999 170,032 n/a n/a n/a 
			 April 1999–March 2000 162,067 31,686 376 335 
			 April 2000–March 2001 208,201 35,637 542 492 
			 April 2001–March 2002 205,999 40,447 768 703 
			 April 2002–March 2003 159,290 33,700 780 706 
		
	
	Notes:
	Full information on the number of successful investigations, prosecutions and convictions resulting from calls to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline is available only from April 1999.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline and Fraud Information by Sector system

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff have been employed to investigate internal fraud within his Department in each of the last six years.

Chris Pond: The Department for Work and Pensions was created following a machinery of Government change in June 2001 by a merger of Department of Social Security and parts of the Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Staff numbers involved in internal fraud investigations prior to June 2001 is now no longer available.
	Between July 2001 and March 2003, internal fraud investigations were undertaken by regionally based staff. In some instances these were dedicated staff, in others there was a panel of investigators called upon as and when required. The information on the number of staff involved in investigations during this period is not now available.
	From the 1 April 2003 it was decided that all internal fraud investigations would be undertaken by an independent team managed by the Director of Internal Assurance. Currently there are 66 full-time investigators and support staff undertaking this work.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions the additional powers to obtain information from specified private and public sector organisations to tackle benefit fraud and error introduced by the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 have been used in each year since the powers took effect; and if he will list the organisations which (a) were asked to provide information and (b) supplied information.

Chris Pond: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Disability Living Allowance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints per thousand disability living allowance examinations were received by each disability benefit centre in the last 12 months, listed in descending order.

Maria Eagle: All complaints relating to disability living allowance medical examinations are recorded and investigated by Medical Services. The numbers of complaints Medical Services received per thousand DLA/AA examinations for the period December 2002 to November 2003, carried out for the disability benefit centres listed, are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Location Number of examinations(29) Number of complaints Complaintsper thousand 
		
		
			 Leeds 26,904 244 9.1 
			 Birmingham 30,770 274 8.9 
			 Manchester 17,478 148 8.5 
			 Newcastle 13,657 106 7.8 
			 Sutton 17,209 134 7.8 
			 Bootle 16,384 125 7.6 
			 Bristol 12,442 88 7.1 
			 Glasgow 13,969 96 6.9 
			 Wembley 29,532 144 4.9 
			 Edinburgh 11,366 49 4.3 
			 Cardiff 15,302 65 4.2 
		
	
	(29) The numbers of examinations include examinations carried out for both DLA and AA. Figures are not available which differentiate between the two benefits.
	Source:
	Medical Services report to Medical Procurement and Contracting Team

Incapacity Benefit Appeals

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many incapacity benefit appeal cases processed by the social security office in Dundee in the last year it has taken more than three weeks to obtain a full statement of reasons from the Appeals Service, Glasgow; and what percentage of the total cases dealt with in that period this represents.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Christina Townsend to Annabelle Ewing, dated 5 February 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking in how many incapacity benefit appeal cases processed by the social security office in Dundee in the last year has it taken more than 3 weeks to obtain a full statement of reasons from the Appeals Service, Glasgow; and what percentage of the total cases dealt within that period this represents
	The information is not available in the requested format. However in respect of the period 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003, out of a total of 955 statement of reasons issued by the Appeals Service office in Glasgow in respect of Incapacity Benefit appeals, 740 were issued after 15 working days, which is 77.5 per cent. of the total. In respect of the Dundee tribunal venue out of a total of 72 statement of reasons issued over the same period, 51 were issued after 15 working days, which is 71 per cent. of the total.
	I hope this reply is helpful.
	
		Statements for incapacity benefit appeals at Dundee(1December 2002 to 30November 2003)
		
			  Less than15 days Between 15 and 20 days Between 20 and 25 days Between 25 and 30 days Greater than30 days Total 
		
		
			 Dundee 21 12 11 5 23 72 
			 Glasgow 215 101 87 97 455 955

Invalid Care Allowance

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carers aged 65 years and over are receiving invalid care allowance.

Maria Eagle: As at 31 August 2003, an estimated 8,000 carers aged 65 and over were receiving Carer's Allowance, and over 33,000 carers aged 65 and over had a carer premium included in their Income Support.
	Note:
	Figures based on a 5 per cent. sample of IAD Information Centre data rounded to nearest 1,000.

Pension Credit

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of pensioners in each London borough are (a) entitled to the pension credit and (b) claiming the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people who are eligible for Pension Credit is not available in respect of individual local authority areas. However, we estimate that approximately 500,000 pensioners in the London region (rounded to the nearest 50,000) are eligible for Pension Credit, which represents approximately 41 per cent. of the number of people in London aged 60 or over. Information on numbers of Pension Credit recipients in the London boroughs is given in the table.
	
		Recipients of Pension Credit (individuals) by London borough, 31December 2003
		
			  Number of Pension Credit recipients (individual) Percentage of population aged 60 and over 
		
		
			 London Government Office Region 278,820 24 
			 City of London 150 11 
			 Barking and Dagenham 7,605 26 
			 Barnet 10,605 18 
			 Bexley 6,400 14 
			 Brent 11,710 28 
			 Bromley 8,135 13 
			 Camden 8,685 31 
			 Croydon 10,630 19 
			 Ealing 11,280 24 
			 Enfield 11,700 24 
			 Greenwich 8,880 25 
			 Hackney 11,230 44 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,915 25 
			 Haringey 10,095 35 
			 Harrow 7,815 20 
			 Havering 7,900 16 
			 Hillingdon 7,160 16 
			 Hounslow 7,690 24 
			 Islington 9,105 39 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,235 19 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,620 14 
			 Lambeth 10,340 32 
			 Lewisham 9,700 27 
			 Merton 5,505 17 
			 Newham 12,795 44 
			 Redbridge 9,000 21 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,925 13 
			 Southwark 10,570 32 
			 Sutton 5,235 16 
			 Tower Hamlets 13,310 55 
			 Waltham Forest 9,705 29 
			 Wandsworth 9,385 27 
			 Westminster 7,805 27 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Percentages have been calculated using the ONS population estimates for mid-2002.
	3. Figures for recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.

Privatised File Stores

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he will ensure (a) that privatised filestores in the South East Region remain open and (b) that the files remain secure.

Des Browne: The Department expects to announce soon the outcome of the competition to manage the Departments storage and retrieval services.
	Future delivery will involve operating from a single site. Modern recording and transmission systems will ensure that documents are available to local offices in South East Region and elsewhere, within 24 hours where necessary as now, to meet operational requirements.
	The contract for record storage and retrieval will place, as it does now, specific requirements on suppliers regarding security of records. All bidding organisations have experience of operating security procedures and have offered assurances as to how this important aspect of the service will be managed.

HEALTH

Alcohol Advertising

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency has commissioned into the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol advertising.

Melanie Johnson: The most recent review of the research on alcohol consumption and advertising was undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's strategy unit as part of its work on developing the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England. Its Interim Analytical Report, published on 19 September 2003, indicated that the evidence on the relationship between alcohol advertising and alcohol consumption was complex—certain studies suggested that there was a link between advertising and consumption, while other studies suggested that there was no such link.

Avian Influenza

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances avian influenza in poultry can be contracted by humans; what strains of avian influenza can be contracted by humans; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 30 January 2004
	Avian flu infection occurs rarely in humans and is usually caught through direct contact with infected chickens or contaminated objects, via the respiratory route or hand/face contact.
	Since 1996, the H7N7, H5N1 and H9N2 avian strains have been found in humans.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work is being undertaken to develop a vaccine for the protection of susceptible persons from infection by the avian influenza virus.

Melanie Johnson: Prototype viruses for vaccine production are being prepared by laboratories in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Influenza Network. Once these prototype viruses are available they will be supplied to manufacturers as the "seed stock" for vaccine production.
	The United Kingdom is an active participant in the WHO network through the Health Protection Agency National Influenza Reference Laboratory, the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control and the WHO Influenza Collaborating Laboratory at the National Institute of Medical Research.

Breast Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards extending breast screening to all women aged 65 to 70 years by 2004.

Melanie Johnson: The expansion of the national breast screening programme is progressing well. Implementing the expansion began in April 2001 and since then over 200,000 more women have been invited for breast screening.
	At the end of December 2003 nearly 40 per cent. of breast screening sites were providing breast screening for women aged 65 to 70, with all sites expected to have implemented the extension by December 2004. Once the extension is fully implemented an extra 400,000 women a year will be invited for breast screening.

Breastfeeding

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child that the UK Government adopt the international code for marketing of breast-milk substitutes; what plans he has to introduce the remaining articles of (a) the 1990 Innocenti Declaration and (b) the international code into UK legislation; and what steps his Department is taking to promote and support breastfeeding in the first six months of infant life.

Melanie Johnson: The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations came into force on 1 March 1995. These regulations implemented EC Directive 91/321/EEC, which embraces the principles of the World Health Organisation code of marketing of breast milk substitutes 1981. We are aware of the differences in United Kingdom legislation compared with the international code.
	We are exploring with the Foods Standards Agency ways in which the UK regulations could be better aligned to the international code.
	The Government are fully committed to the promotion of breastfeeding and have a commitment in the NHS Plan for "increased support for breastfeeding" and recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life. Further commitment to this goal is reflected in a target that has been set to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by two percentage points, focusing particularly on those from disadvantaged groups as part of the priorities and planning framework 2003- 06. A resource pack will be launched in the spring of 2004 to support the national health service in meeting this target. This work will be further developed in the context of the children's national service framework we will be publishing this year. The Department supports National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, a public health campaign to promote the benefits of breastfeeding through the NHS.

Contaminated Blood Products

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs in the United Kingdom have been treated in each year since 1975 for (a) hepatitis C and (b) CJD acquired from contaminated blood products.

Melanie Johnson: The number of haemophilia patients who have been treated for hepatitis C is not collated. There are no haemophilia patients who have been diagnosed with vCJD acquired from blood products.

Contaminated Blood Products

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs died from blood product acquired infections in each year from 1975 to 1987.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of haemophilia patients who have died from Hepatitis C from blood products is not collected. Information from the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation show 212 patients with haemophilia have died from liver disease to January 2000.
	Viral inactivation of blood products and screening for HIV were first introduced in 1985. Information on the number of haemophilia patients who have died from HIV from blood products is not collected centrally. Figures provided by the Macfarlane Trust are only available from 1981, and are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of patients 
		
		
			 1981 1 
			 1982 0 
			 1983 1 
			 1984 2 
			 1985 13 
			 1986 31 
			 1987 40 
			 Total 88 
		
	
	In my response to a question from the hon. Member on Monday 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 191–92W, the number of haemophilia patients infected with HIV/AIDS from infected national health service blood products, registered with the Macfarlane Trust and who died pre-1988 was listed as 87. The Macfarlane Trust has recently advised that the correct figure is in fact 88.

Coronary Angiograms

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary angiograms were sanctioned by each primary care trust in England in each of the last three years; and how many of these were (a) second and (b) third interventions.

Melanie Johnson: This data is not held centrally.

Delayed Discharge

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the social service departments in England that incurred fines for delayed discharge patients from NHS hospitals in January; how many fines were imposed; and what the total amount was of fines (a) in each social services department and (b) for England.

Stephen Ladyman: Liability for delayed discharge charging came into effect on 5 January. Figures for legal liability for delayed discharges for individual councils are not held centrally. However 29 councils have indicated that they have no liability for charges during the three weeks of 5 January to 25 January. During these three weeks national health service trusts have reported approximately 13,000 chargeable days in England as a whole, with a charging liability of approximately £1.4 million.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the procedure for non-EU overseas dentists wanting to work in the UK to be able to so do; and what plans his Department has to make changes to this procedure.

Rosie Winterton: Dentists who qualified in countries outside the European economic area must pass the General Dental Council's international qualifying examination (IQE) for admission to the dental register. The General Dental Council is independent of the Department of Health, but we are aware that the council is monitoring the results of the IQE and the experience of dentists who have sat the examination.

Depression

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the financial cost of the treatment of depression to the NHS in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information relating to the financial cost of treating depression is not collected centrally and no estimate can be made. However, the Government are aware that depression represents a significant burden, not least to those affected and their families.

Drug-related Deaths

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which year the baseline level of 1,480 drug-related deaths refers in relation to the target of reducing the number of drug-related deaths.

Melanie Johnson: The year to which the baseline level of 1,480 drug-related deaths refers in relation to the target of reducing the number of drug related deaths is 1999.

Drugs/Alcohol (Children)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children between 11 and 15 years were admitted to hospital in 2003 owing to alcohol-related problems.

Melanie Johnson: The table shows the number of admissions to national health service hospitals of children aged 11 to 15 with a primary diagnosis of alcohol-related illness during 2002–03.
	
		
			 Primary diagnosis Total admission episodes 
		
		
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 2,760 
			 Alcoholic liver disease 0 
			 Toxic effect of alcohol 562 
			 Total 3,322 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Figures have not (yet) been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health.

Food Promotion

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what basis the (a) chair and (b) panel members were chosen for the event organised by the Food Standards Agency in relation to the promotion of foods to children;
	(2)  what the cost was of the event held on 27 January by the Food Standards Agency in relation to the promotion of foods to children, identifying the (a) production, (b) planning and (c) staffing costs; what the purpose of this event was; what outcomes were achieved; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many people attended the event held by the Food Standards Agency on 27 January in relation to the promotion of foods to children; and how many hon. Members attended; and what representations he received from hon. and right hon. Members on changing the date of the event in order to allow them to attend.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) event, "Defusing the Diet Time Bomb", on the promotion of food to children, was held on the evening of Tuesday 27 January at the QEII centre in Westminster.
	The event was part of a series of activities organised by the FSA to promote public debate on the issue of the promotion of food to children, following the publication of the research review commissioned from Professor Gerard Hastings of Strathclyde University in September 2003. In October 2003, the FSA published a paper setting out a range of possible policy options that might be considered as a result of the Hastings findings.
	The purpose of the event on 27 January was to provide members of the public with an opportunity to debate the issues publicly with each other and with stakeholders drawn from consumer organisations, the food and advertising industries, public health and children's organisations. A report of the event, along with views gathered at other stakeholder events, will be used to inform the FSA board decisions on what advice to offer to Ministers.
	The chair was chosen on the basis that he was independent and fair. The six main panellists were selected to provide a balance of views and a range of expertise and experience to reflect the range of issues under discussion.
	Over 450 people attended in person at the QEII centre. 439 viewed the debate online via the FSA's web-site and an estimated 1,000 watched on digital television.
	One noble Member of another place attended. A number of apologies were received from hon. Members but no representations were made by any right hon. or hon. Members to change the date.
	The total cost of the event was £147,000, of which £143,500 was allocated to production and a further £3,500 for planning and preparation. Staffing at the event was provided by FSA staff.

GM and Animal Insulins

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, columns 708–09W, what assessment he has made of the difference in costs between GM and animal insulins.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of animal and genetically modified (GM) insulins varies between different manufacturers and presentations. The national health service list price of animal insulins is between £0.66/ml and £1.85/ml, and GM insulins, between £1.05/ml and £2.60/ml. Although the prices of individual insulins vary, the overall cost of medicines to the NHS is controlled by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme which limits the profits companies are allowed to make through their trade with the NHS.

Health Inequalities

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the individuals and organisations from which his Department, its executive agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible received a response to the consultation, Tackling health inequalities: Consultation on a plan for delivery.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 22 January 2004
	A summary report of the responses received to the "Tackling Health Inequalities: Consultation on a Plan for Delivery" was published by the Department in June 2002. There were almost 600 written responses received and registered, and over 1,000 people attended regional conferences to consider the issues raised. A list of the registered names of individuals and organisations, together with a copy of the summary report has been placed in the Library.

Health Services Review (Surrey/Sussex)

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the South East Surrey and North West Sussex Health Services Review (Bagnall Review) which began in February 2001.

Rosie Winterton: I understand that the Bagnall Review was commissioned in the year 2001 by the former East Surrey and West Sussex Health Authorities, and carried forward by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) from 2002.
	As consistent with our policy on "Shifting the Balance of Power", ownership of all information relating to this matter now lies with the SHA and the hon. Member may wish to approach the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive.

Health Statistics

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS statistics are collected specifically by age groupings including the (a) over 75s and (b) over 60s.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 4 February 2004
	Where practicable, relevant and justified, statistical collections by the Department include information on the date of birth or age of patients or other statistical subjects. Some data collected may include analysis by age groups and these may cover partly or wholly the over 60 and over 75 age groups.
	The available information on collections that specifically collect by age-bands and those that collect individual age data is shown in the table.
	
		Department of Health information collections that include data by age-band only
		
			 Collection Over 75 age-band Over 60 age-band Other information 
		
		
			 Smoking Cessation Services Return(30) No Yes Other bands up to 59, then 60 and over 
			 Attribution Dataset(30) Yes Yes 5-year bands up to 80–84, then 85 and over 
			 Summary of Genito-urinary Medicine Services(30) No No 45–64, then 65 and over 
		
	
	(30) Patient data
	Department of Health information collections that include data by individual ages:
	Data on patients
	Hospital Episode Statistics
	National Joint Registry (hip and knee joint replacements)
	Patient Care in the Community: Community Learning Disability Nursing
	Patient Care in the Community: Community Psychiatric Nursing
	Patient Care in the Community: District Nursing
	Summary of Chiropody Services
	Summary of Contraceptive Services
	Summary of Occupational Therapy Services
	Summary of Physiotherapy Services
	Summary of Speech and Language Therapy Services
	Adult Screening Programme: Breast Screening (Screening Unit)
	Adult Screening Programme: Breast Cancer (Health Authority)
	Adult Screening Programme: Cervical Cytology
	Immunisation Programmes: Health Authority Activity
	National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS)
	Pathology Laboratories: Cervical Cytology and Biopsies
	Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS)
	National Survey of Patient Experience
	Data on the NHS workforce
	Annual Census of General Medical Practitioners (GMPs)
	Salaried Doctors employed under the Salaried Doctors Scheme
	Annual Hospital and Community Health Services Medical and Dental Workforce Census
	Annual Hospital and Community Health Services Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Non-principals returns (assistants, trainee registrars and other doctors working in GMP practices)
	Personal Medical Services (take-up of PMS status amongst GMPs)
	Nursing Campaign Return (nurses returning to work in the NHS).

Hepatitis C

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis was upon which the calculation of compensation for those that contracted hepatitis C from NHS blood products was made.

Melanie Johnson: The following independent resources were considered in order to determine the level of ex-gratia payments to be made by the Skipton Fund:
	The scheme of payments implemented by the Macfarlane Trust.
	The scheme of payments implemented by the Eileen Trust.
	The report of the Hepatitis C Working Party to the Haemophilia Society.
	The report of the Scottish Executive's Expert Group on Financial and Other Support chaired by Lord Ross.
	The payment structure was also influenced by the need to consider the issue of making such ex-gratia payments in the context of other demands on the health care budget.

Hepatitis C

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recourse families of patients who died of the effects of hepatitis C contracted through NHS blood products will have to compensation.

Melanie Johnson: The announcement of a payment scheme for every person who was alive on 29 August 2003, and whose hepatitis C infection is found to be attributable to national health service treatment with blood or blood products, was made on 23 January 2004. The Department has no plans to introduce a similar scheme or pay compensation to families of those who have died of the effects of such an infection.
	If negligence on behalf of the NHS or private suppliers is suspected, families of those who have died are entitled to pursue punitive damages through the courts.

HIV/AIDS (Children)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of (a) HIV positive and (b) Aids was among children aged from one year to 15 years in 2003.

Melanie Johnson: In children aged one to 15 years, there were 81 confirmed HIV diagnoses in the United Kingdom in 2003, including 12 who presented with AIDS. These numbers will rise as late reports are incorporated.
	In total, 742 children aged one to 15 years with diagnosed HIV infection were known to be living in the UK in 2003.
	Source:
	National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood, Institute of Child Health, London and the Health Protection Agency.

MRSA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to reduce the number of cases of MRSA in hospitals.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 29 January 2004
	We already have standards to ensure there is a managed environment, which minimises the risk of infection to patients, staff and visitors. Hospital performance in infection control has shown an improvement over the last three years but intensified action is required and a new action plan has been produced. We are confident that implementation of "Winning Ways—Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England", will reduce infection rates for all pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Neurology Services (Hampshire)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in improving neurology services in (a) Portsmouth and (b) South East Hampshire in the last five years; and what plans he has for the services.

Rosie Winterton: Since April 2002, responsibility for commissioning neurology services in Portsmouth and East Hampshire rests with Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust (PCT). During this time, the PCT has been working closely with East Hampshire PCT, Fareham and Gosport PCT and Southampton University Hospitals National Health Service Trust to reduce waiting times for the service and will continue to actively work in partnership with the NHS trust to look at ways of further developing the service.
	The national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions will focus on improving the standard of neurology services across England. It will also address some of the generic issues that are important to people with non-neurological disabilities; such as access to rehabilitation services, provision of good quality information, support for carers and access to community equipment, assistive technology and wheelchairs. We have appointed an external reference group and working groups to make recommendations and consider areas and issues for proposed standards. We currently plan to publish the NSF in December 2004 for implementation from 2005.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his powers will be transferred to elected regional assemblies where they are introduced; and which body holds each of those powers.

Melanie Johnson: The White Paper, "Your Region Your Choice", set out the Government's plans for the powers and responsibilities of English regional assemblies.
	An assembly will:
	Have a duty to promote the health of the population of the region. This will include scrutinising the assembly's own policies and strategies;
	Support the development and implementation of a health improvement strategy for the region, working with the relevant regional director of public health;
	Appoint the regional director of public health as the assembly's health advisor.
	None of these will require a transfer of powers from the Secretary of State for Health or from any agencies accountable to him.

Respite Care

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money his Department gave to projects that deal with respite care projects for terminally ill children in 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: Funding for projects providing respite care for terminally ill children is available from national health service primary care trusts. Information on the amount provided is not collected centrally.

School Fruit

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 585W, on the School Fruit Scheme, how much the Government spent centrally on administering the National School Fruit Scheme in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03, excluding the cost of the fruit.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 3 February 2004
	Payments by the Department to local operators in the 27 areas that piloted the National School Fruit Scheme in 2001–02 included an estimated £20,000 for administration.
	All costs in 2002–03, in these pilot areas and in the three whole regions that joined the scheme during the year, were met by bodies receiving grants from the lottery-funded New Opportunities Fund. These grants included 1.7 per cent. for administration; on the basis of which the estimated cost of administrating the scheme in 2002–03 was £170,000.

Smoking

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in smoking policy reviews in Government buildings.

Melanie Johnson: We have not undertaken a formal review of smoking policies in all Government buildings. The Department has taken the lead from April 2003 in making our buildings smoke-free and we continue to encourage employers and managers of public places to introduce smoke-free policies.

Smoking

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (a) how many and (b) what proportion of children aged between 11 and 15 years smoke.

Melanie Johnson: It is estimated that, in England in 2002, 10 per cent. of 11 to 15-year-olds smoked cigarettes regularly (at least one cigarette a week), around 324,000 young people aged 11 to 15.

Statins

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact of the new general medical services contract on the prescribing of statins in primary care for patients with high cholesterol levels.

Melanie Johnson: The quality indicators for the new general medical services contract include cholesterol management for patients with coronary heart disease. This will reinforce general practitioners' current work to deliver the quality standards set out in the national service framework for coronary heart disease, which are driving the present increase in statin prescriptions, with an estimated saving of 6,700 lives per year and preventing many more people from having heart attacks.

Universal Vaccination

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has assessed relating to the value of universal vaccination as a means of protecting the population against disease.

Melanie Johnson: Vaccination has been one of the most effective interventions along with improvements in clean water supplies and nutrition in reducing infectious diseases throughout the world. The introduction of vaccines in the United Kingdom against a number of childhood diseases, including whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and diphtheria has lead to significant reductions or elimination (in the case of smallpox) of these diseases.
	There are a number of good examples where the level of a disease has fallen following the introduction of an effective vaccine. Following the introduction of Hib in 1992, there was a 98 per cent. fall in the number of laboratory confirmed cases in children under five years of age. Similarly, the meningococcal C vaccine, introduced in November 1999, resulted in a reduction in the number of laboratory confirmed cases of meningococcal group C disease by around 95 per cent. in babies under 12 months of age. Oral polio vaccine has been extremely effective in eliminating poliomyelitis from the UK. Excellent progress towards worldwide eradication is being made, and the World Health Organisation hopes to have interrupted wild polio transmission by the end of 2005.

Vegetables

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in respect of all vegetables their carbohydrate content; and which are regarded by his Department as having too much carbohydrate to qualify for inclusion as vegetables in a healthy diet.

Melanie Johnson: Carbohydrate content of vegetables is given in McCance and Widdowson's 'The Composition, of Foods' (Sixth summary edition), copies of which are available in the Library.
	Government guidelines for a healthy diet, set out in the Food Standards Agency's 'Balance of Good Health' model, recommend eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and also plenty of foods rich in starch (carbohydrate) and fibre. Potatoes and yams, cassava and plantains are usually eaten as the main source of carbohydrate in a meal and, for the purposes of the 'Balance of Good Health', are grouped with other starchy foods in the 'bread, other cereals and potatoes' section. Vegetables eaten in addition to the main starchy food are covered by the 'fruit and vegetables' section.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Civil Service (Disabled People)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out the number of employees in the Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type.

David Lammy: The following table is as at 1 April 2003. 442 members of staff in the Department for Constitutional Affairs have declared a disability. This information is obtained through a confidential survey issued to all staff, and collected against the following categories, which are based on Cabinet Office guidance. My Department is a member of the Disability Working Group.
	
		
			 Disability description Total 
		
		
			 Reduced physical capacity 159 
			 Hearing impairment 65 
			 Mobility impairment 61 
			 Visual impairment 33 
			 Physical co-ordination difficulties 28 
			 Learning disabilities 19 
			 Mental illness 8 
			 Speech impairment (31)— 
			 Reduced physical—with one or more other disabilities 32 
			 Mobility—with one or more other disabilities 20 
			 Hearing—with one or more other disabilities 12 
			 Visual—with one or more other disabilities 5 
			 Learning—with one or more other disabilities (31)— 
			 Physical co-ordination difficulties—with one or more other disabilities (31)— 
			 Disfigurement—with one or more other disabilities (31)— 
			 Mental illness—with one or more other disabilities (31)— 
			 Disability unknown (31)— 
		
	
	(31) No declarations have been received.

Committee Membership

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who the members of the (a) Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace, (b) Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax, (c) Civil Procedure Rule Committees, (d) Judicial Studies Board, (e) Council of Tribunals and (f) Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

David Lammy: The following table details the membership of: (c) Civil Procedure Rule Committee, (d) Judicial Studies Board, (e) Council of Tribunals and (f) Legal Services Consultative Panel (which replaced the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct on 1 January 2000).
	There are 86 Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace, each having between and eight and 16 members in total. They would each normally serve nine years in total and are not remunerated.
	There are 74 Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of income tax, each having between six and eight members in total. They would each normally serve nine years in total and are not remunerated.
	I will place a copy of the full list of names in both Libraries of the Houses when they are available.
	
		
			 Public Body Member 1st Term 2nd Term 
		
		
			 Civil Procedure Rule Committee Remuneration: Members of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee do not receive remuneration. However, under Civil Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers (ex officio) 1 October 2000–.  
			 Procedure Act 1997 Section 2(5), the Lord Chancellor Sir Andrew Morritt (ex officio) 17 July 2000–  
			 may reimburse the members of the Committee with "travelling and other out-of-pocket expenses". Subject Sir John Dyson 1 September 2003 (without term)  
			 to that, there is no payment made to members. His Honour Judge StephemOliver-Jones QC 25 September 2002–31 August 2005  
			  District Judge Carlos Dabezies 1 September 2001–31 August 2004  
			  Master Steven Whitaker 25 September 2002–31 August 2005  
			  Michael Black QC 15 February 2000–31 August 2004  
			  Philip Rainey 1 September 2001–31 August 2004  
			  Richard Walford 1 September 2003–31 August 2006  
			  Julie Herzog 1 September 2001–31 August 2004  
			  Nicholas Burkill 25 September 2002–31 August 2005  
			  Andrew Parker 1 September 2003–31 August 2006  
			  Ahmad Butt 1 September 2003–31 August 2006  
			  Peter Candon JP 1 September 2003–31 August 2006  
			 Judicial Studies Board Remuneration: Susan Hewett and Sonia Shah-Kazemi each receive a fee of £150 for Lord Justice Keene (Chairman) 31 July 2003–30 July 2007  
			 attending each meeting as they are not full time members of the judiciary. Lady Justice Smith DBE 2 October 2000–1 October 2004  
			  Mrs Justice Hallett DBE 1 October 1999–30 September 2002 1 October 2002–30 September 2004 
			  Mrs Justice Cox 31 July 2003–30 July 2007  
			  Mr Justice Crane 1 October 2001–30 September 2005 . 
			  Mr Justice Sumner 1 October 1999–30 September 2002 1 October 2002–30 September 2004 
			  Mr Justice Sullivan 1 October 1999–30 September 2002 1 October 2002–30 September 2004 
			  Judge Richard Bond 1 August 2001–24 June 2002 25 June 2002–24 June 2004 
			  Judge Dick Pollard 1 April 2000–31 March 2002 1 April 2002–31 March 2004 
			  District Judge Jeremy Cochrane 1 August 2001–28 February 2004  
			  District Judge (MC) Phillip Wassell 1 October 2002–30 September 2006  
			  Godfrey Cole 4 January 2004–3 January 2006 
			  Susan Hewett JP OBE 1 January 2003–31 December 2005  
			  Sonia Shah-Kazemi 30 September 2003–29 September 2005  
			  Sir Hayden Phillips (ex officio member)   
			 Council on Tribunals The Chairman receives an annual retainer of £44,973 plus travel expenses. The Chairman of the Council's Scottish Committee receives an annual The right hon. The Lord Newten of Braintree PC QBE 1 October 1999–30 September 2002 1 October 2002–30 September 2007 
			 retainer of John Elliot 1 June 1998–31May 2001 1 June 2001–31 May 2004 
			  Carolyn Berkeley JP 1 April 1999–31 March 2002 1 April 2002–31 March 2005 
			 £22,486 plus travel expenses. Members receive an annual retainer off £10,945 plus travel expenses. Michael Brown JP 1 May 1996–30 April 1999 1 May 1999–30 April 2002 3rd term 1 May 2002–30 April 2003 
			  Elizabeth Cameron 2 September 2002–1 September 2005  
			  Anne Galbraith 1 September 1997–31 August 2000 1 September 2000–31 August 2003 
			  Rosalind Hepplewhite 1 September 2002–31 August 2006  
			  Susan Howdle 1 April 1998–31 March 2001 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 
			  Penny Letts 1 September 2002–31 August 2006  
			  Stephen Mannion 10 August 2001–9 August 2004  
			  Bernard Quoroll 1 May 2003–30 April 2007  
			  Douglas Readings 1 September 1997–31 August 2000 1 September 2000–31 August 2003 
			  Professor Genevra Richardson 1 February 2001–31 January 2004  
			  Sandy Russell CB 1 January 2002–31 December 2004  
			  Paddy Waring 1 November 1997–31 October 2000 1 November 2000–31October 2003 
			  Heather Wilcox 1 February 2003–31 January 2007  
			  Ann Abraham 4 November 2002 n/a 
			 Legal Services Consultative Panel. Lord Justice Potter (Chairman) 1 January 2000–31 December 2001 1 January 2002–31December 2004 
			 Members are not renumerated Professor Hugh Brayne 1 January 2002–31 December 2004  
			  Lady Elizabeth Finsberg 1 January 2000–31 December 2005  
			  Karen McKay 1 January 2002–31 December 2004  
			  Richard Moorhead 1 January 2002–31 December 2004  
			  John Randall 20 March 2000–31 December 2005  
			  Simon Sapper 1 January 2000–31 December 2005  
			  Alan Street 1 January 2000–31 December 2005  
			  Peta-Sweet 1 January 2000–31 December 2005  
			  Dr. Matthew Weait 1 January 2002–31 December 2004  
			  Jonathan Acton Davis QC 1 January 2004–31 December 2006  
			  Jonathan Goldsmith 1 January 2004–31 December 2006  
			  John Hannam 1 January 2004–31 December 2006  
			  David Mclntosh 1 January 2004–31 December 2006  
			  John Young CBE 1 January 2004–31 December 2006  
			  John Randall 1 January 2004–31 December 2006

Crown Court (Exeter)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has for the future of the Crown Court in Exeter; what impact he estimates this will have on the workings of the Crown Court in Barnstaple; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The Crown Court in Exeter is due to relocate to purpose built accommodation at the end of 2004. The new premises will provide additional courtroom capacity, which takes account of the projected workload for Exeter over the next 20 years.
	The impact of the new Exeter Court on the Crown Court in Barnstaple will not be considered until the new Exeter Courts are fully operational. If, at that stage, it is thought appropriate to make any changes to the current arrangements consultation with all interested parties will take place. There is therefore no immediate impact on the Crown Court in Barnstaple.

Hutton Inquiry

David Amess: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what selection procedure was followed for the appointment of Lord Hutton to oversee the Dr. Kelly inquiry.

Christopher Leslie: Where a Government decide that they wish to invite a senior judge to conduct an Inquiry, the Prime Minister invites the Lord Chancellor to recommend a suitable judge. This process was followed on this occasion, and, after consulting the senior judiciary, the Lord Chancellor proposed Lord Hutton and he accepted the appointment.

Magistrates

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures he plans to reduce the age profile of magistrates benches, with specific reference to rural areas.

Christopher Leslie: The written ministerial statement made in this House on 6 November 2003, Official Report, columns 43–44WS, on the National Strategy for the Recruitment of Lay Magistrates announces the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor's decision to remove the lower age limit for applicants to the magistracy who can show that they have the key qualities needed for appointment. This is intended to help in achieving a more diverse and better-balanced bench. The National Strategy itself contains proposals to encourage younger people, including advertising in a range of media, local radio and cinemas. A bus advertising campaign began on 1 November 2003. As a direct result of this 2,283 inquiries have been received of which 1,224 (54 per cent.) were from those aged between 18–40. Advisory Committees in rural areas regularly review the make-up of their benches at the outset of their recruitment campaigns with the intention of attracting the right range of people, using their local knowledge and ideas developed through the National Strategy.

Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: In the last 12 months, 113 security passes have been reported lost and 16 reported stolen by staff within the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Additionally 294 security passes were reported lost and 13 were reported stolen within the departmental agencies.
	When a security pass is reported lost or stolen, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the risk of unauthorised access into any of the Department's buildings.

Statutory Sick Pay

Paul Goodman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people employed in his Department have claimed statutory sick pay for (a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The following table provides the number of people in my Department who have claimed statutory sick pay for the periods defined in each year since 1997.
	My Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to meeting the targets for reduced sickness absence as set out in the departmental plans.
	
		
			  Less thanone week One tothree weeks Four tosix weeks Seven to12 weeks 13 to20 weeks 21 to28 weeks Total employees 
		
		
			 1997 633 249 38 52 45 0 1,017 
			 1998 1,537 717 115 154 80 0 2,603 
			 1999 2,868 1,198 170 198 122 0 4,556 
			 2000 2,834 1,284 190 205 172 0 4,685 
			 2001 2,746 1,359 222 249 185 0 4,761 
			 2002 3,242 1,507 228 298 197 0 5,472 
			 2003 2,402 1,057 139 139 52 0 3,789